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POOR  MARY  POMEROY! 

«.  The  Unfortunate  Music  Teacher. 


The  alleged  Pistol  Scene  between  Rev.  J.  S.  Grlendenning  and 

Miss  Mary  Pomeroy. 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY  I 

THE  JERSEY  CITY  MUSIC  TEACHER. 

ALSO, 

A  FULL  AMD  AUTHENTIC  ACCOUHT 


OF  THE 


of  f(ev.  J of(n  $.  G^leij 


BEFORE  THE 


AUTHORITIES  OP  PROSPECT  AVENUE  CHURCH. 


STARTLING  DETAILS  AND  CURIOUS  STATEMENTS. 


WHAT  A  LADY  SAW  ONE  NIGHT. 


OLD  FRANKLIN  PUBLISHING  HOUSE, 


on  a>, 


$ 

IB 


PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


>f  Oengre**,la  the  year SS %  '.«■  ~ 

librarian  af  Oongres*,  at  'Wasbintpoa,  D.  G. 


MW <tt 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


Thu  title  of  our  little  pamphlet  has  a  far  deeper,  sadder  meaning  than 
the  mere  use  of  the  words  imply.  Poor  Mary  Pomeroy  !  Her  mouldering 
dost  now  slumbers  peacefully  enough  in  the  churchyard  in  Jersey,  where, 
after  her  short  and  stormy  life,  her  brother  and  kind  friends  laid  her 
down  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  and  gloom  and  poignant  sorrow  in  their 
hearts.  It  was  not  only  the  death  of  the  dear  sister  and  friend  that 
caused  this  sad  display,  but  it  was  the  breaking  ot  her  heart  and  the 
destruction  of  her  hitherto  pure  character  by  the  man,  who  above  all 
•thers  should  have  defended  her,  ere  Death  came  and  took  her  away  to 
that  happy  home  above.  Poor  Mary’s  last  words  were : 

“God  forgive  him  for  his  wrong  to  me.  I  loved  him.  I  trusted  him 
foolishly:  God  have  mercy  on  me;  I  have  told  the  truth.” 

They  held  her  baby  over  her;  but  being  too  weak  to  raise  her  arms  to 
clasp  it,  she  could  only  kiss  it,  and  then  she  expired. 

Would  it  be  possible  for  a  young  woman  like  Mary  Pomeroy,  who  had 
all  her  life  enjoyed  such  a  sterling  reputation  for  virtue  and  goodness  to 
thus  deliberately  lie  and  perjure  herself  on  her  death  bed?  We  do  not 
think  the  most  hardened  human  being  could  believe  she  would. 

Therefore,  the  plain,  simple,  story  of  wrong  she  narrated  with  her 
lying  lips  stands  like  an  accusation  written  in  blood  against  her  deceiver, 
never  to  be  erased;  but  to  remain  against  him  till  God’s  angel  of  justice 
and  retribution  shall  drag  him  to  the  eternal  bar  to  be  confronted  with 
his  victim  and  to  receive  his  punishment. 

In  Jersey  City,  on  Prospect  Avenue,  on  the  Heights  stands  a  Presby¬ 
terian  Church.  It  is  the  most  fashionable  church  in  the  town,  and 
among  its  worshippers  were  the  wealthiest  and  most  respectable  femiliea 
of  the  place.  The  pastor  of  this  tabernacle  was  the  Rev.  John  S  Glen- 
denning,  a  young  man  of  about  twenty  eight  or  thirty.  Being  unmarried, 
he  lived  with  his  mother  and  sister  on  Bergen  Avenue.  He  was  quite 
jwpular  on  account  of  his  talents  and  winning  manners,  and,  of  course, 
3 


4 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


was  not  only  freely  admitted  to,  but  courted  in  the  houses  of  bis  parish¬ 
ioners.  Prominent  among  these  was  Mr.  J.  S.  Miller,  himself  a  most 
popular  and  respected  citizen.  Mr.  Miller  fully  eighteen  years  ago  had 
adopted  into  his  family  circle  as  his  own  daughter,  a  little  orphan  girt, 
then  nine  years  old,  named  Mary  E  Pomeroy.  The  child  thus  adopted, 
grew  up  and  became  as  much  beloved  by  her  new  parents  as  their  owi 
children. 

Years  rolled  on,  and  the  orphau  child  expanded  into  a  handsome, 
pleasing  and  most  accomplished  woman.  Her  greatest  accomplishment 
was  music;  and.  consequently,  she  was  ever  the  recipient  of  invitations 
to  visit  the  homes  of  her  friends  and  acquaintances.  Everybody  loved 
her,  and  every  oue  was  delighted  to  have  her  grace  their  entertainment*, 
so  great  was  the  pleasure  she  afforded  all.  To  pass  her  time  away  pr<fr- 
fitably,  and  also  that  she  might  not  be  a  burden  upon  her  foster  parent* 
— though  this  she  did  really  against  their  desires — she  gave  lessons  k 
music.  Beside,  she  assumed  the  duties  of  organist  in  the  Prospect 
Avenue  Church  of  which,  as  we  have  said,  Glendenning  was  pastor. 

In  this  position  she  was,  of  course,  thrown  into  almost  constant  com¬ 
munication  and  intercourse  with  the  minister.  From  mere  social  and 
official  affairs,  the  two  soon  came  to  speak  on  more  tender  subjects. 
Matters  progressed  in  this  wray,  the  affection  at  least  on  Mary’s  part 
growing  into  true  love.  Her  friends  claim  that  the  pastor  proposed  mar¬ 
riage  to  Miss  Pomeroy  and  was  accepted.  This  alleged  courtship  eos- 
tinued  three  years,  Mr.  Glendenning  often  visiting  several  times  a 
week. 

He  also,  it  is  alleged,  gave  her  handsome  presents,  at  one  time  a  gold 
watch  and  chain,  at  another  earrings,  and  sleeve  buttons.  Also  m««; 
significant  of  all  a  wedding  ring.  This  Mr.  Glendenning  denies. 

A  long  list  of  most  highly  respectable  witnesses  under  oath,  as  ad¬ 
ministered  to  them  in  the  most  solemn  manner  known  to  their  religiow 
belief,  all  testified  unreserved  and  unanimously  to  the  high  opinion  they 
had  of  Mary  Pomeroy’s  purity  of  life  and  Christian  character. 

Not  only  this,  but,  in  order  to  show  to  the  community  in  general,  that 
they  really  believed  what  they  said  and  made  oath  to,  all  these  peopk 
made  it  a  point  to  attend  the  funeral  of  the  victim. 

Mary  Pomeroy’s  name  has  been  added  to  the  long  list  of  unfortuates, 
whose  trusting  love  and  belief  in  the  promises  of  a  scoundrel,  a  lving 
lecherous  coward  worked  their  ruin.  If  there  is  a  human  wretch  moce  ! 
mean  and  contemptible  than  the  veriest  reptile,  it  is  that  man  who  gaioa 
the  love  a  woman,  and  then,  through  the  most  solemn  vows  and  pr«- 
naiseB,  effects  her  ruin,  and  then  deserting  her  throws  the  blame  up<Hk 
herself.  Pshaw' !  such  a  thing  is  too  utterly  mean  even  to  be  turned  oni 
to  associate  with  jackals  and  buzzards,  muc'  less  to  be  allowed  to  tc> 
main  among  men. 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


5 


Ho  one  will  ever  know  the  agonies  of  poor  Mary  Pomeroy’s  mind  daring 
the  last  dreary,  horrible  months  of  her  once  happy  life.  Her  awful  secret 
(sould  not  long  be  concealed,  aud  yet  with  her  bleeding  heart  and  the 
throbbing  of  that  other  life  within  her  own,  she  was  obliged  to  be  merry 
and  gleesome.  How  she  must  have  suffered,  as  sabbath  after  sabbath 
ehe  sat  at  her  organ,  and,  with  trembling  fingers,  caused  its  great  pipes 
to  peal  forth,  in  unequalled  sublimity  and  grandure,  anthems  of  praise  to 
God.  It  had  no  longer  any  harmony  to  her.  It  was  the  frightful 
thunder  of  doom  in  her  ears.  Unable  to  endure  it  longer,  she  would  shut 
off  the  large  pipes,  and,  drawing  the  softest  stops,  she  made  such  tender, 
plaintive,  strains  float  out  over  the  congregation,  that  the  people  held 
their  breaths  for  fear  of  interrupting  the  Heavenly  melody.  Yet  all 
seemed  to  Mary  like  the  wailings  and  sobbings  of  unhappy  spirits,  and, 
with  ejres  blinded  by  bitter  tears,  she  turned  toward  the  altar  to  catch  if 
possible  a  hopeful,  encouraging  glance  upon  the  minister’s  face.  It  was 
the  face  of  him  she  loved,  the  face  that  had  so  often  been  bent  over  her 
own,  the  face  that  so  often  had  beamed  on  her  fondly,  as  the  lips  spoke 
the  unredeemed,  promise. 

But  on  that  face  there  was  no  comfort  for  her.  Poor  girl!  poor, 
trusting,  deceived,  broken-hearted  girl !  Henceforth  she  had  no  face  to 
look  up  to  but  God’s;  henceforth  no  ear  in  to  which  to  pour  her  an¬ 
guish  but  God’s ;  henceforth  no  hand  to  guide  and  support  her  but 
God’s !  But  God  did  not  desert  her,  praise  be  to  His  Holy  name ;  He  did 
not  leave  her  in  her  desolation,  aud  her  pangs  of  dissolution  ;  but  sent 
His  angels  to  bring  her  over  the  dark  river  and  through  the  dark  valley 
nafely  home. 

Several  persons  have,  since  Miss  Pomeroy’s  death,  spoken  about  the 
manner  in  which  the  unfortunate  young  lady  performed  on  the  last  oc¬ 
casion  of  her  playing  the  organ  at  Gleudenning’s  church.  After  the 
rehearsal  she  sat  down  at  the  instrument,  and,  after  playing  a  favorite 
voluntary,  she  struck  into  Come  Ye  Disconsolate.  This  she  followed 
Vith: 

“Rock  of  ages  cleft  for  me, 

Let  me  hide  myself  in  Thee.” 


And  then,  after  a  pause,  she  rendered  the  hymn : 


.  i 


“Just  as  I  am 
Without  one  plea 
But  that  the  Savior  died  for  me 
Oh  Lamb  of  God  I  come.” 


Said  one  lady. 

“I  never  was  so  deeply  affected  in  all  my  life.  I  little  thought  at  the 
ime,  as  the  sweet  and  solemn  sounds  made  me  weep  with  emotion  that 
diary  was  thus,  like  the  swan,  singing  her  last  and  best  strains  before 


« 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


death.  The  agony  of  mind  which  sbe  endured  at  that  time  must  hav« 
been  horrible.  But  who  knows?  it  might  have  been  consoling  and  heal¬ 
ing  to  her  tortured  spirit.” 

As  she  closed  up  the  key  board  of  the  organ  that  evening,  she  crossed 
her  hands  on  her  lap  in  a  tired,  odd  kind  of  way;  and  looking  up  at  tbe 
gilded  instrument,  she  said; 

"Well,  well,  how  strange  it  would  be,  if  I  should  never  play  upon  yo« 
again.  If  I  thought  I  would  not,  I  would  bid  you  good  bye.  But  no,  I 
yvill  not  do  that.” 

Then,  turning  to  one  of  her  companions,  she  said : 

‘‘Annie,  if  ever  I  die  would  you  come  to  see  my  grave  once  in  awhile 
and  put  a  few  flowers  on  it?” 

"Oh,  Mary,  how  you  do  talk!”  exclaimed  her  friend.  "What  ails  you 
to  night,  any  way  ?  You  seem  to  be  melancholly.” 

"Never  mind,  dear,”  she  hastily  replied  with  a  merry  laugh,  "I  was 
only  trying  to  frighten  you.” 

Soon  after  the  party  left  the  church,  and,  in  passing  out,  Mary  lingered 
behind  the  rest  in  order  that  she  might  pause  a  moment  at  the  altar  and 
kiss  its  sacred  marble.  God  knows;  perhaps  she  felt  that,  in  that  act  she 
sought  and  found  forgiveness  for  her  own  part  of  the  sin  ;  or  perhaps  she 
even  prayed  the  Great  Judge  not  to  punish  her  seducer.  For  every  body 
says  Mary  would  forgive  her  worst  enemy. 

On  the  next  Sabbath  a  stranger  was  at  the  organ  in  Glendenning’s 
church;  and,  when  the  members  wondered,  they  were  told  Mary  was 
very  sick.  Mary  Pomeroy  had  done  with  the  organ,  poor  girl.  In  the  | 
travail  that  the  Creator  in  anger  sent  upon  Eve,  she  was  struggling. 
From  the  bed  on  which  she  tossed  in  despair  and  agony,  she  was  destined 
never  to  rise  until  her  wasted,  pulseless  form  was  carried  forth  to  the 
grave  yard. 

Of  course,  when  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  longer  conceal  her  mis. 
fortune,  poor  Mary  confessed  all  to  her  mother  by  adoption  Mrs.  Miller. 
That  lady  was  naturally  exceedingly  grieved  and  shocked  at  such  an  un¬ 
expected  and  awful  disclosure,  most  especially  on  account  of  the  asso 
ciation  of  Mr.  Glendenning’s  name  with  the  affair.  No  one  had  better  ojk 
portuuities  of  knowing  this  as  tho  minister  of  course  used  to  come  to  heil 
house  to  see  Mary,  and  courted  her  there.  She  knew  also  that  Mary  wTa« 
a  good  girl,  and,  with  the  exception  of  her  mistaken  confidence  in  he  I 
seducer,  as  pure  as  an  angel  of  light. 

Mrs.  Miller  at  once  communicated  the  state  of  affairs  to  her  husbanifl 
who  -was  so  enraged  that  he  felt  tempted  to  take  summary  vengeantM 
upon  Glendenning.  But  cooller  second  thoughts  prevailed  with  hiol 
and,  instead  of  following  his  first  inclination,  Mr.  Miller  detern»*ued  tfl 
force  a  marriage.  So  the  necessary  steps  were  taken,  the  first  ol  whiclB 
was  the  following  charge  laid  before  Justice  Aldridge. 


POOR  MART  POMEROY. 


“HUDSON  COUNTY.  The  voluntary  examination  of  Mary  E.  Pom¬ 
eroy,  of  Jersey  City,  in  said  County,  single  woman,  takeD  on  oath,  be¬ 
fore  me,  Thomas  Aldridge,  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Peace,  in  and  for  the 
said  County,  this  15th  day  of  July  1814  A.  D.,  who  saith  that  she  is  now 
with  child,  and  that  the  said  child  is  likely  to  be  born  a  bastard,  and  to 
be  chargeable  to  the  city  of  Jersey  City,  and  that  John  S.  Glendenning, 
of  said  city,  a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  is  the  father  of  said 
child. 

MARY  E.  POMEROY. 

[  Taken  and  signed  the  day  and  year  above  written  before  me. 

'  THOMAS  ALDRIDGE, 

Justice  of  the  Peace. 

The  next  step  was  the  arrest  of  Glendenning  which  was  at  once  accom¬ 
plished  with  the  utmost  despatch ;  and  the  prisoner  was  brought  before 
Justice  Aldridge  for  a  hearing.  After  the  first  part  of  the  excitement 
Glendenning  became  quite  cool  and  methodical. 

Miss  Pomeroy’s  friends  perseveringlv  insisted  that  Mr.  Glendenning 
should  marry  her,  using  all  their  powers  of  persuasion  to  induce  such  a 
settlement  of  the  affair. 

That  was  no  part  of  his  plan,  however;  and  he  declined  to  do  so.  In 
mnsequence  the  law  was  allowed  to  take  its  course,  and  Glendenning 
ivas  bound  over  in  heavy  bail  to  stand  his  trial  for  the  alleged  offense. 
Mr.  John  Gordon  became  his  surety  to  appear  and  he  was  released. 
There  were  three  charges,  one  for  the  support  of  the  child,  which  was 
aid  against  Him  by  the  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  one  for  seduction,  and  one 
or  breach  of  promise  of  marriage. 

:  As  soon  as  he  was  free,  Glendenning  began  to  lay  out  his  defence, 
le  relied  upon  a  mysterious  paper,  which  he  alleged  Miss  Pomeroy  had 

Iiven  him  acknowledging  that  she  had  sinned  with  others  than  himself.. 

While  all  this  was  going  on,  poor  Mary,  the  victim,  was  taken  sick  and 
ae  child  was  born,  a  little  girl. 

The  shock  to  Miss  Pomeroy’s  system  was  too  much  ;  and,  after  ap~ 
arently  rallying,  she  began  to  droop;  and  finally  sank  more  and  more 
ipidly,  until,  at  length,  on  August  18th,  she  succumbed  to  what  Doctor 
urnett  truly  called  “a  broken  heart.”  During  the  last  night  she  suffered 

!‘eat  agony  of  body  and  equally  severe  torture  of  mind.  In  her  moments 
’mental  darkness  and  delirium,  she  called  on  him  most  pitifully  to  come 
her,  and,  at  least  rescue  her  good  name  and  reputation  from  blight  and 
?st  ruction. 

[1  At  length  day  light  came,  and,  with  it  came  the  conviction  to  all  the 

■ . 

I  Burning  friends  of  the  unfortunates,  as  they  stood  round  her  bed  and 
itched  her  countenance,  that  the  end  was  rapidly  approaching.  Early 
the  morning  Mr.  Dudley  the  Overseer  called  at  the  house,  and  being 
mitted  to  the  sick  room,  he  at  once  perceived  that  Mary  was  dying. 

■  — 

I 


8 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


He  immediately  seut  for  Justice  Aldridge  to  take  her  ante  mortem,  state¬ 
ment.  But  the  latter  gentleman  refused  to  come  ercept  the  victim  her¬ 
self  should  express  a  desire  to  see  him.  After  some  objection  aud  delay 
this  was  obtained. 

“I  bear  him  ao  malice,”  she  groaned,  “but  I  must  vindicate  my  good 
name.” 

When  Mr.  Aldridge  came,  which  was  about  eleven  o’clock,  he  ap¬ 
proached  her  bed  side,  and  taking  her  hand  gently,  inquired  if  she  kne* 
him. 

She  promptly  replied  : 

“Oh,  yes,  Sir,  I  know  all  of  your  here.” 

“  You  are  quite  ill,  Miss  Pomeroy ;  do  you  wish  to  make  any  state  i 
ment?” 

“  Yes,  Sir,  I  would  like  to  do  so.  I  feel  as  though  I  have  not  long  to 
live.  There  have  been  a  great  many  things  said  about  me  I  now — in 
the  sight  of  God  tell  the  truth— that  John  S.  Glendenning  is  the  father 
of  my  child.  He  has  denied  it  and  still  denies  it;  but  he,  and  no  one  else 
is  the  father  of  that  child.  He  has  said  things  against  me.  I  was  afraid 
of  him ;  but  now  I  am  not.  He  may  have  papers  but  that  does  not  cleatl 
him.” 

Mr.  Aldridge  wrote  down  this  statement  in  lead  pencil  and  then  tool 
it  away  to  bis  office  where  he  rewrote  it  iu  ink.  With  this  ink  copy  hi 
returned  to  Mr.  Miller’s  house  that  Miss  Pomeroy  might  sign  it.  But  h' 
had  scarcely  entered  the  dwelling  when  the  unfortunate  girl  breathed  he 
last,  passing  away  finally  as  quietly,  as  peacefully  as  an  infant  falling  | 
asleep.  All,  therefore,  that  he  could  now  do  was  to  attest  the  documen  ! 
in  legal  form,  which  he  did  as  follows: 

State  of  New  Jersey  s.  s.  This  is  to  certify  that  the  above  is  a  tro 
statement,  as  the  same  was  made  by  Mary  E.  Pomeroy  on  her  death-be 
to  me  this  18th  day  of  August 

THOMAS  ALDRIDGE,  justice  of  the  peace. 

After  Mr.  Aldridge  had  first  left,  Mary  clasped  her  hands  together  ai 
offered  up  a  most  fervent,  touching  prayer  for  the  destroyer  of  her  ha 
piness  and  her  life.  She  then  prayed  for  her  own  poor ;  unfortunate  se 
But  with  the  words  of  supplication  quivering  on  her  lips  she  died,  amici 
the  tears  and  sobs  of  those  who  stood  round  her  bed. 

By  her  death  the  only  witness  on  which  the  two  main  charges  agaitj  , 
Glendenning  could  be  substantiated  was  effectually  silenced.  Audi  . 
even  became  a  matter  of  great  doubt  whether  he  could  be  held  to  answ  . 
the  only  other  one  that  remained.  I  c 

As  soon  as  the  news  spread  through  the  city  that  Miss  Pomeroy  nfl  ,, 
dead,  there  was  the  wildest  public  excitement.  Groups  of  men,  and  etl  i  t 
woanta,  collected  iu  the  streets  aud  discussed  the  awful  affair  with  null  j( 


POOS,  MARY  POMEROY. 


9 


intensity  of  feeling;  and  it  is  certain  that  there  were  men  filled  with 
rage  and  determination  enough  to  have  taken  the  accused  man’s  life 
right  or  wrong. 


MARY’S  FUNERAL. 

When  the  tolling  requiem  bell  warns  us  that  some  one  we  love  is  about 
to  be  consigned  to  the  final  resting  place,  its  mournful  tones  bring  teara^ 
to  our  eyes.  Yet  to  comfort  us  under  ordinary  circumstances  we  have 
the  assurance  that  no  pang  of  conscience,  no  suffering  of  the  soul,  added 
anything  to  the  physical  pains  of  the  departed.  But  sometimes — God 
help  our  loved  and  lost — the  soul  itself  endures  the  torture  of  dissolution 
as  well  as  the  body.  Ah!  then,  indeed,  the  solemn,  mournful  bell  makes 
not  our  eyes  alone,  but  also  our  hearts  to  bleed  with  something  more 
than  sorrow,  something  more  than  pity. 

Poor  Mary  Pomeroy !  Had  her  contemptible  deceiver  been  possessed  of 
the  tithe  of  a  man’s  bravery  or  honor,  he  would  have,  at  least,  plucked 
the  thorn  from  that  wretched  girl’s  pillow  by  the  marriage  ceremony. 
But  the  only  panacea  which  could  heal  her  breaking,  despairing  heart, 
was  ruthlessly  denied  her.  Like  a  wounded  bird  ;  forsaken  by  the  flock, 
stricken,  fainting,  perishing,  she  was  doomed  to  tread  the  dark  valley 
alone,  uncomforted,  unshriven.  She  had  been  taught  by  lips  she  loved 
to  “pray  for  her  enemies,”  and  now  all  her  dying  breath  was  spent  in 
praying  for  her  worst  foe,  and  when  at  least  she  thought  of  herself,  and 
to  ask  God  to  forgive  her,  she  had  no  strength  to  do  so.  Her  lips  forgot 
their  art  and  with  no  word  of  prayer  for  herself,  Mary  Pomeroy,  was 
ushered  into  the  presence  of  God  to  plead  at  His  bar.  Yet  there  was 
for  her  advocate  that  saviour  who  on  earth  once  said: 

“ Neither  do  I  condemn  thee." 

Those  who  stood  around  Mary’s  death-bed  were  melted,  as  they 
watched  her  white,  trembling,  clasped  hands;  and  heard  her  tongue 
pleading  that  he  might  be  forgiven.  And  they  said  they  had  never  be¬ 
fore  in  all  their  experience  witnessed  such  a  scene.  Most  pathetic  off  all 
was  the  climax.  At  the  dying  girl’s  request  Mrs.  Miller  held  the  baby 
down  to  her  face  till  its  lips  touched  hers.  She  made  a  superhuman 
effort  to  raise  her  arms  and  get  them  around  the  little  creature,  but  could 
not.  One  last,  fond  look  of  love,  agony,  joy,  despair,  hope,  and  resig¬ 
nation,  flitted  across  Mary’s  face  for  a  moment  or  so ;  and  then,  the  un- 
Beeu  hand  of  Death  drew  over  her  features  the  blank  veil  which  divide* 
mortality  from  immortality.  Mary  was  gone,  the  baby  was  a  branded, 
orphan  waif,  and  the  case  against  him  who  had  caused  all  this  misery 
and  murder  was  secure  from  man’s  puny  vengeanee.  But  not  from  God’s 
will  it  preserve  the  wretch  There  was  one  thorn  in  Mary  Pomeroy’s 
dying  pillow ;  but  his  will  be  filled  with  thorns. 


Id 


POOR  MART  POMEROY. 


The  tragedy  was  over,  so  far  as  the  victim  was  concerned,  and  naught 
remained  for  the  relatives  and  few  staunch  friends,  who  etill  loved  tbe 
memory  of  the  uufortunate  Mary,  but  to  lay  her  wasted  body  away  u> 
slumber  in  its  dusty  bed  uuder  the  green  grass  and  innocent  flowers. 

With  teuderest  care  the  corpse  was  wrapped  and  coflined  in  a  magnifi¬ 
cent  rosewood  burial  casket.  In  order  to  prevent  any  demonstration  tbe 
funeral  was  not  made  public,  except  to  a  few  intimate  friends  of  the  de« 
ceased.  Yet  when  the  hour  for  the  services  arrived — w'hich  was  2  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  there  was  an  enormous  mass  of  people  who  had  been 
assembling  since  early  in  the  morning,  attracted  as  much  by  pity  at  tbe 
sad  fate  of  the  uufortunate  girl,  as  by  curiosity  to  behold  her  funeral 
cortege. 

The  most  conspicuous  feature  of  the  whole  affair  was  the  great  number 
of  highly  respectable  gentlemen  and  their  wives  and  daughters,  who  had 
made  it  a  special  duty  to  be  at  tbe  obsequies,  in  order  that  their  presence 
might  show  their  sincere  belief  in  the  virtue,  and  purity,  and  sterling  worth 
of  Miss  Pomeroy.  They  were  particularly  desirous  to  do  this  because 
certain  interested  parties  had  officiously  and  with  diabolical  malice  set 
afloat  rumors  to  the  effect  that  the  poor  dead  victim  of  a  villain  had  been 
of  unchaste  habits.  This  was  the  meanest,  most  cowardly  trick  of  v.Thich 
the  betraying  seducer  could  have  been  guilty ;  because  Mary’s  mouth 
was  closed  in  the  tomb  and  she  could  not  deny  the  vile  lies  heaped 
upon  the  grave  clods  that  hid  her  from  the  world’s  sight  And  here  let 
os  remark  that  the  dead  girl’s  brother  must  be  of  a  most  perfect  Christian 
disposition,  and  a  firm  believer  in  the  admonition — “  Yeugeance  is  mine; 
I  will  repay,  saith  tbe  Lord.”  If  not,  how  could  be  stand  by  that 
sister’s  corpse,  and,  knowiug  what  calumies  her  betrayer  was  circulating 
about  her,  uot  seize  his  revolver,  and  bury  every  bullet  of  its  six  chambers 
in  tbe  heart  of  the  ruining  wretch? 

Among  these  distinguished  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  had  thus  come 
to  testify  their  appreciation  of  Mary  Pomeroy  were  the  following— 
Ex  Mayor  Sawyer  and  wife,  Charles  L.  Northrop,  Alderman  Toffev, 
Geo.  P.  Howell — who  is  an  elder  in  Glendenning’s  church,  William  E. 
Dndlev,  Albert  Metz,  H.  A.  Hellerman,  J.  H.  Bedell,  C.  W.  Congar, 
Edward  L.  Kimberly,  Geo.  E.  Randall,  Chas.  W.  Perveil,  S.  H.  Demott* 
John  Allen,  and  Gilbert  E.  Dudley. 

Iu  the  course  of  conversation,  Mayor  Sawyer  remarked: 

“I  determined  I  would  come  here  at  all  hazards.  As  a  man  of  family, 
I  wish  to  show  my  appreciation  of  the  sterling  character  of  that  young 
woman.  She  visited  some  of  our  very  best  families,  and,  from  what  I 
know  of  her,  I  can  assert  positively  that,  except  this  piece  of  misplaced 
confidence  and  devotional  love,  there  nev^v  was  a  purer,  more  virtu©** 
girl  than  Mary  Pomeroy.” 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


13 


Doctor  Burdott  called,  and  while  endeavoring  to  console  Mrs.  Miller, 
#hose  grief  had  brought  on  an  attack  of  acute  nervousness,  said: 

“Ah,  madam,  you  ought,  after  all,  to  feel  happy  that  poor,  loved  Mary 
has  been  taken  by  God  to  Himself;  for  had  she  lived  she  must  have  been 
placed  in  the  Lunatic  Asylum.” 

Mary’s  brother  Alfred  who  lived  in  Michigan  having  been  telegraphed 
for  arrived  while  the  funeral  was  gathering ;  and  the  scene,  as  he  ad¬ 
vanced  and  gazed  down  upon  the  white,  emaciated  face  of  his  sister.; 
That  face  was  wonderfully  calm,  after  such  a  storm,  so  calm  that  no  one 
there  but  felt  its  owner  had  made  her  peace  with  God  and  was  now  rest¬ 
ing  peacefully  on  his  bosom. 

The  body  was  dressed  in  rich  black  tarletan,  but  it  could  scarcely  be 
6een  for,  from  ihe  neck  to  the  feet  kind  hands,  moved  by  fond  hearts  had 
heaped  upon  it  pure  white  flowers  in  profusion.  Wreaths,  crosses,  bou¬ 
quets,  anchors  and  hand  bunches  were  laid  there,  while  a  magnificent 
crown  was  passed  round  the  head.  Most  touching  and  most  suggestive 
of  all  however  was  a  memento  that  some  unknown  hand  had  placed  di¬ 
rectly  upon  the  still,  bosom  of  the  dead  one.  It  was  in  the  form  of  a 
broken  heart  and  was  constructed  of  opening  white  roses  to  each  of  which 
a  hot  iron  bad  been  skilfully  touched  so  as  to  sear  and  brown  the  top  of 
the  flower  while  leaving  the  other  part  fresh  and  undiscolored. 

Ohl  could  that  bad,  bad  man  have  only  looked  upon  this  memento  it 
would  have  haunted  him  to  his  dying  day,  and  be  ever  telling  him  of  his 
awful  crime. 

When  the  final  moment  arrived  and  the  undertaker  screwed  down  the 
ooffin  lid  over  the  mortal  from  of  the  dead,  people  saw  the  silver  plate  on 
which  vme  engraved  the  lines: 

MARY  E.  POMEROY, 

DIED  AUGUST  18, 

Aged  26  years  and  3  Months. 

It  had  been  desired  to  have  a  clergyman  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
present  to  perform  the  burial  services;  but  as  will  be  seen  it  was  im¬ 
possible  to  have  one,  and  so  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tunison  of  the  Simpson  Meth. 
»dist  church  performed  the  sad  and  trying  duty.  The  first  act  he  per¬ 
formed  was  to  baptize  the  baby,  and  as  he  did  so,  he  could  not  be  heard 
for  the  sobs  and  weeping  of  those  who  were  touched  to  the  soul  by  the 
fite,  under  such  circumstances.  This  over,  he  took  the  book  and  in 
measured  accents  read  that  sublime  service  commencing  “Man  that  is 
born  of  a  woman,  hath  but  a  short  time  to  live.” 

When  be  had  finished  he  delivered  his  sermon.  He  appreciated  the 
fact  that  he  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding  delicacy.  A  fellow 
Worfee®  in  God’s  vineyard  had  been  accused  in  the  most  solemn 


12 


POOB  HART  POMEROY. 


known  to  mankind,  by  the  now  silent  lips  of  Mary  Pomeioy,  of  the  vilest 
crime  with  which  be  could  have  been  charged. 

Technically,  in  the  eyes  of  the  law  at  least,  the  accused  must  be  eo»» 
aidered  innocent.  His  position  also  in  the  community  as  a  shepherd,  a 
guardian  of  morality,  was  in  his  favor,  independently  of  his  character  a» 
a  man.  Yet  in  the  opposite  scale  to  weight  the  frightful  accusation  were 
the  facts  that  Miss  Pomeroy’s  personal  character  was  certainly  held  in 
as  much  esteen  as  that  of  the  accused,  and  that  her  original  charge  had 
been  most  emphatically  repeated  by  her  upon  her  her  death-bed,  in  her 
full  senses. 

Tho  following  is  a  synopsis  of  Mr.  Tunison’s  discourse: 

“Something  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  I  have  mingled  as  a 
minister  with  Christian  people.  I  have  buried  fathers  and  mothers,  eons 
and  daughters.  I  have  been  called  upon  to  consign  to  the  silence  of  the 
tomb,  those  who  had  been  called  away  in  a  moment.  But  the  most  pain¬ 
ful  duty  I  have  been  called  upon  as  a  Christian  pastor  I  realize  this  hour. 
It  is  not  only  painful  but  delicate.  I  am  not  willing  to  say  a  word  that 
would  reflect  unjustly  on  any  human  being,  yet  I  must  speak  boldly, 
those  sentiments  which  will  promote  your  morals  and  secure  your  wel¬ 
fare.  I  have  prayed  to  God  anxiously  and  earnestly  this  morning  that 
be  may  guide  me  through  this  painful  ordeal.  In  all  cities,  towns  and 
nations  there  are,  and  there  will  be,  deserters,  despite  the  enactment  of 
the  best  and  wisest  laws. 

“The  point  that  I  desire  to  make  in  this  connection  is,  that  there  are 
men  who  will  commit  crime  despite  the  fact  that  God  lives  and  reigns. 
God  governs  the  ways  of-beings  who  are  constantly  rebelling  against  him 
This  world  to  day  is  not  the  same  as  when  God  made  it.  The  soul  and 
mind  of  a  man  are  not  as  they  were  when  God  made  them.  Earth¬ 
quakes,  whirlwinds,  famine  and  pestilence,  are  things  that  may  exist  is 
connection  with  a  people  who  may  have  rebelled  against  God’s  authority. 
If  there  were  no  virtues  there  would  be  no  vice.  How  is  it  that  some  of< 
those  who  are  the  purest  and  best  suffer  the  most  while  those  who  are 
the  vilest  and  the  worst  suffer  the  least?  If  I  take  poison,  no  matter^ 
whether  I  am  a  good  man  or  a  bad  man,  whether  I  have  followed  God1*! 
law  or  rebelled  against  it,  I  will  die ;  because  as  I  have  said,  God  govern* 
the  world  by  general  laws.  The  good  suffer,  yet  God  loves  rigbteousueci 
and  hates  evil.  If  I  could  believe  there  would  be  no  hereafter — that 
when  man  dies  there  would  be  an  eud  to  man,  body  and  soul,  that  there 
would  be  no  rewards  or  punishments,  I  would  discard  the  existence  of 
God,  I  would  be  an  atheist.  I  say  this  deliberately  in  presence  of  thi* 
vast  assemblage.  The  thought  suggested  by  these  points  are  that  w* 
are  constantly  surrounded  by  dangers,  sickness,  losses,  and.  worst  of  all 
by  siu.  No  matter  how  near  we  live  to  God,  how  much  grace  we  have, 
we  are  in  constant  danger  till  our  dying  hour.  Wbat  are  we  tr  Ue*» 


POOR  MART  POMEROT. 


IS 


from  this  ?  We  must  he  always  vigilant  and  on  our  guard  against  the 
enemy.  Does  it  not  become  a  navigator  to  watch  anxiously  lest  he  may 
strike  upon  a  rock  ? 

“The  sad  event  which  called  us  here  to  day  teaches  the  importance  of 
guarding  against  evil  in  all  its  forms.  A  little  matter  kindles  a  great 
fire.  A  little  drop  of  poison  quenches  out  a  life.  Bear  with  me  if  I  speak  k 
of  the  experience  of  our  departed  friend.  One,  single  mistake  broke  a 
heart  that  was  full  of  joy,  and  destroyed  a  life.  One,  single  mistake  on 
the  part  of  her  seducer  made  him  a  murderer.  I  stand  here  to  repeat  it, 
and  am  ready  to  answer  for  it  at  the  bar  of  man.  I  am  a  father,  and  I 
speak  to  fathers  and  mothers.  I  would  rather  see  the  mangled  and  life¬ 
less  remains  of  my  daughter  striken  down  by  the  hand  of  the  midnight 
assassin,  brought  to  my  door,  than  to  see  her  robbed  of  her  honor  and 
her  virtue.  If  a  man  that  robs  another  of  life  deserves  death  on  the  scaf¬ 
fold,  the  man  that  robs  a  woman  of  what  is  dearer  to  her  than  life,  de¬ 
serves  a  thousand  deaths  on  the  scaffold.  Oh  1  young  men  and  young 
women,  who  hear  me,  pause,  before  you  make  one  step  toward  the  nar¬ 
row  way.  A  great  shadow  has  been  cast  upon  this  household.  Poor 
Mary  Pomeroy,  when  she  fell,  realized  that  all  the  beauties  had  departed 
>ut  of  this  life.  What  a  fearful  mass  of  human  beings  who  have  made  a 
similar  false  step,  have  robbed  themselves  and  sometimes  their  innocent 
•nes  of  life.  Poor  Mary  Pomeroy !  She  raised  her  soul  to  God  and 
irepared  herself  to  pass  to  a  world  where  she  hoped  there  would  be  uo 
offering. 

“‘I  have  made  up  my  mind,’  said  she,  ‘that  I  must  make  a  great  effort 
I' I  will  be  saved.  When  I  had  fallen,  I  felt  that  I  was  estranged  from 
>od,  and  that  I  must  make  a  great  effort  to  be  restored  to  his  friendship, 
would  like  to  live  longer;  but  I  must  go.  I  am  content.’ 

“Oh,  it  is  well  for  poor  Mary  Pomeroy  that  God  has  taken  her  from  a 
rorld  of  woe  to  a  world  of  gladness  1  ” 

Very  frequently,  during  the  delivery  of  this  sermon,  the  minister  was 
terrnpted  with  long-continued  bursts  of  grief  and  sobbing  from  the 
isembled  mourning  friends. 

Within  a  short  time  after  the  conclusion  of  the  funeral  ceremonies,  the 
>dy  of  the  unfortunate  girl  was  lowered  into  the  grave,  the  clods  of 
rth  heaped  in  upon  her  coffin  until  the  mound  was  finished  and  romod*4 
ii  '  shape.  So  ended  the  mortal  career  of  Mary  Pomeroy 

i 

it  !j 
*: 

i  . 

ki  I 

*| 

i 

hi 

m 


POOR  MARY  POMRROY. 


14 


THE  SUBSEQUENT  MOVEMENTS. 

Of  course,  after  the  decease  of  the  alleged  victim  all  sor<s  of  surmise* 
were  set  afloat  as  to  what  would  be  done  in  the  case.  The  friends  of 
Miss  Pomeroy  scarcely  knew  what  to  do  in  the  affair  as  without  herself 
there  could  be  no  decided  testimony  against  the  accused.  The  friends  of 
the  latter  were  as  well  pleased  with  the  turn  matters  had  taken,  though 
had  they  had  real,  judicious  discretion,  they  should  have  been  sorry  that 
there  was  not  a  full  opportunity  of  proving  to  the  satisfaction  of  th« 
community  the  innocence  of  their  accused  friend. 

Soon  after  the  funeral  Mrs.  Miller  took  a  trip  over  to  New  York  to 
ascertain  if  possible  of  some  institution  in  which  the  baby  might  ba 
placed  to  be  raised,  as  it  was  in  an  exceedingly  delicate  state  of  health 
and  she  wished  it  to  have,  therefore  the  very  best  of  medical  treatment. 
This  under  the  circumstances  it  could  not  receive  at  her  house. 

On  this  occasion,  quite  by  accident,  she  happened  to  stop  in  at  th« 
Clinton  Place  Nursery.  There  she  learned  in  the  course  of  conversation 
that  a  man  answering  the  description  of  the  accused  had  been  about  six 
weeks  previously,  to  inquire  whether  they  had  accomodations  for  a  lady. 

When  Mrs.  Miller  stated  this  fact,  there  was  a  fierce  denial  of  it,  and  i 
challenge  to  prove.  So  at  an  indignation  meeting  which  was  presided 
over  by  Ex  Mayor  Sawyer,  we  believe,  the  following  affidavit,  made  bj 
Mrs.  Miller  was  read.  ‘ 

Mrs.  J.  P.  Miller,  being  duly  sworn,  upon  her  oath  says  that  on  Thure 
day,  the  13th  day  of  August,  1874,  deponent  went  to  the  city  of  Not 
York  for  the  purpose  of  making  some  arrangement  for  a  nurse  for  tb 
child  of  the  late  Miss  Mary  E.  Pomeroy  and  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenninj 
and  first  called  at  a  foundling  asylnm  near  Sixty-eighth  street,  and  aft* 
*ome  conversation  at  that  institution  it  was  suggested  to  her  to  retur 
on  the  following  Saturday,  the  15th  of  August  inst.,  and  make  the  fim 
arrangements,  and  such  was  deponent’s  inteution;  but  my  aunt,  Mr 
Miller,  suggested  that  we  go  to  the  Presbyterian  Home  of  the  Friendles 
on  Twenty-ninth  street,  aud  I  then  concluded  I  would  do  so  on  the  f( 
lowing  day,  the  14th  of  August  inst.  I  did  call  upon  them  and  they  I 
fused  to  receive  the  baby  unless  given  to  them,  which  I  declined  to  d. 
and  thev  recommended  me  to  go  to  another  institution  on  Fiftieth  strw 
which  I  did.  They  informed  me  that  they  could  not  receive  it  just  the. 
They  advised  me  to  go  to  an  institution  known  as  an  infant  asylum,* 
Clinton  place,  and  on  the  same  day  I  called  at  that  institution  and  statli 
the  case  to  some  of  the  attendants,  and  they  recommended  me  to  call  ■ 
Dr.  Hubbard,  who  was  connected  with  that  institution,  at  his  housed 
Ninth  street,  which  I  did;  stated  the  facts  to  him  and  said  my  objtl 
was  to  get  the  child  into  the  institution  to  be  properly  nursed.  He  bQ 
that  really  they  had  no  right  to  take  the  child,  as  it  belonged  to  KJ 


Miss  Pomeroy. 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


Jersey,  and  ought  not  to  be  supported  by  a  New  York  institution,  but 
that  there  would  be  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Managers  Saturday,  th® 
15th  of  August,  at  which  time  he  said  he  would  bring  the  case  before 
them  as  to  whether  they  would  take  the  child.  He  said,  “By  the  by, 
ho  w  old  is  the  child  ?”  Deponent  replied  that  it  was  three  weeks  old  to¬ 
morrow.  He  (Dr.  Hubbard)  made  a  few  other  casual  remarks,  when  I 
remarked,  “You  have  probably  read  all  about  the  case.”  He  said  he 
had,  and  offered  sympathy  and  asked  what  we  were  going  to  do  with  the 
man.  I  told  him  that  remained  to  be  seen;  that  we  must  save  the 
mother,  and  child;  the  babe  must  be  put  out  to  nurse.  He  then  requested 
me  to  describe  the  gentlemau  (referring  to  the  one  believed  to  be  its 
father).  I  commenced  as  follows:  “He  is  short,  rather  thick  set,  with  a 
short  thick  neck.”  I  was  somewhat  confused,  and  hesitated  a  moment, 
when  Dr.  Hubbard  said,  “Rather  dark  hair,  dark  complexion,  very  young 
looking  and  pleasing  in  his  manners  ?  ”  I  replied.  “  Exactly,”  and  then 
remarked,  “Is  it  possible  I  have  stumbled  in  here  to  obtain  such  infor¬ 
mation  as  this?”  Said  he,  “I  don’t  know  about  that,  but  a  man  answer¬ 
ing  this  description  came  here  about  six  weeks  ago,  wishing  to  get  a  girl 
admitted  into  the  institution  for  the  purpose  of  confinement,  and  I  made 
arrangements  to  meet  the  young  man  at  the  institution  the  next  day,  but 
have  not  seen  him  since.”  He  told  me  to  go  back  to  the  institution,  and 
they  would  tell  me  what  they  knew.  I  did  not  then  return  to  the  in¬ 
stitution,  but  returned  to  my  home,  on  reaching  which  I  found  Miss 
Pomeroy  had  experienced  a  change  for  the  worse,  and  continued  to  grow 
nore  feeble  until  death  put  an  end  to  her  mental  and  bodily  sufferings. 
The  reason  of  my  going  was  in  consequence  of  her  wish  to  have  the  child 
tlaced  in  such  an  institution. 

On  Friday,  the  12th  of  August  inst.,  deponent  again  went  to  the 

Hinton  place  institution,  taking  with  her  the  brother  of  the  late  Mary  E. 

’omeroy,  Alfred  B.  Pomeroy.  We  met  the  head  nurse  or  matron  and 

old  her  our  business,  that  I  wished  to  put  a  child  out  to  nurse  ;  we  ex- 

lained  what  child  it  was,  and  told  her  Dr.  Hubbard  thought  the  gentleman 

rho  had  called  some  time  previous  referred  to  the  same  girl.  She  said. 

Yes,  there  was  a  gentleman  called  about  admitting  a  girl  into  the  in- 

Utution.”  Deponent  said,  “Would  you  know  his  picture”  (photograph), 

nd  I  handed  her  a  photograph  of  Rev.  John  S.  Gieudenuing,  a  very 

jrrect  likeness.  She  positively  said,  “That  is  the  man”  (meaning  the 

ian  who  had  some  time  previously  called  to  make  arrangements  about  a 

bung  girl  being  confined  at  that  institution).  She  further  added:— “I 

)ticed  him  particularly,  as  he  acted  strangely  and  did  not  want  to  come 

to  the  parlor  and  was  much  agitated;  on  entering  the  parlor  I  noticed 

i  pulled  his  hat  down  over  his  e3res,  and  it  was  his  conduct  that  mad© 

3  notice  him  particularly.”  She  also  said  that  the  doctors  would  com* 

;i  2 
1 
I 

fl 

I 


IS 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


over  the  next  day  (Saturday),  the  22d  day  of  August,  and  they  would 
see  what  arrangements  they  would  make  about  the  child. 

On  Saturday  I  went  over,  taking  with  me  Mrs.  Julia  M.  Metz,  and 
both  of  us  proceeded  to  the  Clinton  place  institution,  at  which  time  Dr. 
Hubbard  stated  to  us  that  they  had  concluded  not  to  take  it,  as  it  be¬ 
longed  to  New  Jersey.  Some  other  unimportant  remarks  were  made, 

when  I  said: _ “  Well,  Doctor,  your  nurse  or  matron  identified  the  picture 

(referring  to  John  S.  Gleudenuing’s  photograph)  as  that  of  the  gentleman 
who  called  about  six  weeks  ago,”  to  which  he  replied,  “Yes,  so  she  says, 
and  I  said  to  her  she  must  be  very  careful,  as  she  may  have  to  swear  to 
it,”  and  he  said  that  she  then  told  him  she  could  swear  to  it.  He  then 
4aid,  "Have  you  the  picture?”  I  said  “Yes.”  He  said,  “Let  me  look 
it  it.”  He  then  said,  “I  cannot  say  that  was  the  man,  as  it  was  in  the 
>.,veniu(T  when  I  saw  him.”  He  then  remarked  that  it  would  be  better  to 
•;t  the  Poonnaster  have  charge  of  the  matter  and  get  a  wet  nurse,  as  the 
child  must  be  delicate. 

Mrs.  J.  S.  MILLER 

Subscribed  and  sworn  before  me  this  25th  day  of  August,  A.  D.  187 4.| 
JOSEPH  II.  ALDRIDGE, 

Notary  Public  of  the  city  of  Jersey  City. 

The  above  afidavit  was  followed  by  like  documents  from  the  brothei| 
of  the  dead  girl  and  also  Mrs.  Metz,  corroborative  of  it. 

On  the  next  Sabbath  after  the  funeral  it  was  thought  that  the  churcll 
would  be  crowded  by  curious  people,  but  it  was  not,  as  it  had  bccomJ 
known  that  Glendenning  would  not  officiate  in  the  pulpit.  The  mosl 
a  fleeting  part  of  the  whole  service,  which  was  conducted  by  Rev.  Mrl 
Wi trains,  was  the  music.  Mr.  Ilcllerman  took  Miss  Pomeroy’s  place  &| 
the  organ  while  around  him  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  choir  ranged 
themselves.  The  organist  took  Mary’s  music  book  and  opening  at  he| 
favorite  voluntary,  drew  the  stops  of  the  instrument,  and  softly  sent  till 
sweet  dreamy  notes  floating  abroad  in  the  sacred  building.  There  wal 
not  a  member  of  the  choir  but  was  in  tears,  as  indeed  also  were  most  i| 
the  sparse  congregation  scattered  t  hroughout  the  building.  Mr.  A\  i<j 
g'ns’  discourse  bad  no  point  of  reference  whatever  to  the  subject  whicl 
was  causing  such  an  excitement  in  the  community. 

After  the  commotion  attending  the  exposure,  the  whole  affair  seemej 
to  drift  away  for  awhile  into  quiet  and  obscurity  and  numbers  of  peop 
in  the  community,  believed  that  as  most  other  affairs  of  a  like  character 
would  be  hushed  up. 

But  it  was  not  so.  There  were  too  many  friends  of  standing  and  r| 
spectability  in  Jersey  City,  who  had  made  up  their  minds  that  tl  i 
character  of  poor,  dead  Mary  Pomeroy  should  not  be  neadlessly  ai 
oruellv  villified  in  order  that  some  other  character  might  be  saved. 


POOR  MARY  POME  ROT. 


19 


these  friends  moved  steadily  and  determinedly  against  the  man 
wfoom  they  alleged  to  be  guilty  of  the  destruction  of  Miss  Pomeroy — 
Mr.  Glendenniug. 

On  the  other  hand  Glendenning  Lad  numbers  of  friends  equally  respect¬ 
able  and  wealthy  who  stood  by  him  and  fought  the  attack  step  by  step 
as  it  advanced,  and  who  no  doubt  firmly  believed  in  the  innocence  of  the 
pastor.  And  it  is  quite  likely  that  had  Miss  Pomeroy’s  defenders  been  of 
Jess  weight  than  they  were  in  society  the  Presbyterian  Church  Officials,, 
would  never  have  consented  to  investigate  the  charges  brought  against 
Glendenung.  If  for  no  other  reason  they  would  have  followed  this 
course — for  fear  that  the  mere  entertainment  by  them  of  such  charges 
would  work  ill  to  the  cause  of  religion  in  general. 

And  we  must  say,  that,  in  all  denominations,  this  desire  to  prevent 
the  crucial  test  of  an  accused  shepherd’s  character  is  ever  too  powerful. 
There  is  not  the  slightest  doubt  also  that  more  harm  is  done  to  religion 
thereby  than  to  bring  out  the  whole  truth,  naked  and  without  conceal¬ 
ment.  For  if  the  gold  is  pure  fire  does  it  no  damage.  It  shines  only 
brighter  thau  before.  But  if  the  metal  is  base  then  is  it  destroyed  by  the 
Sre  and  it  can  no  longer  pass  muster  with  the  unsullied,  unalloyed  coin. 

We  hold  therefore  that,  in  all  cases,  when,  for  instance  a  minister  of 
the  gospel,  or  in  fact  any  man  is  accused  of  a  heinous  crime  agaiust  mo¬ 
rality,  instead  of  quibbling  and  hiding  behind  this  legal  and  that  legal 
privilege,  he  should  come  forward  promptly,  waive  all  quirks  and  queries 
and  say  to  his  fellow-men: 

“I  have  been  thus  accused.  I  am  not  guilty.  Here  I  am,  examine 
me  as  you  will,  I  will  answer.”  The  innocent  man  could  never  suffer 
under  these  circumstances.  None  but  the  guilty  could. 

When  the  church  officials  found  that  they  must,  in  defferenee  to  public 
opinion,  hold  an  investigation  they  called  a  meeting  for  the  purpose. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Jersey  City  Presbytery  took  place  in  the 
Second  Presbyterian  church  on  October  6th.  It  was  composed  of  del¬ 
egates  from  Hudson,  Essex  and  Passaic  Counties.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wall 
was  elected  Moderator,  Rev.  Mr.  Moore  permanent  Clerk,  Rev.  Mr. 
French  and  Mr.  Stern  Assistant  clerks. 

All  the  preliminary  arrangements  and  details  having  been  settled 
upon,  Rev.  Mr.  Booth  rose  and  moved  that  the  letter  of  the  Rev.  John 
§,  Gleudenning  in  the  hands  of  the  clerk  be  read. 

Rev.  Mr.  Harkness  objected  to  this.  He  moved  as  an  amendment  that 
the  Presbytery  alone  should  listen  to  the  reading;  because,  in  his  opinion 
this  case  had  already  received  sufficient  publicity.  This  looked  so  much 
like  a  smothering  effort  that  Mr.  Imbrie  sprang  to  his  feet  and  replied 
rather  sharply  to  the  objection  of  his  colleague. 

A  motion  was  now  made  and  carried  to  appoint  a  committee  of  six, 
W».ree  clergymen  and  three  elders,  to  take  the  matter  into  consideration. 


30 


POOR  MART  POMEROT. 


The  following  named  gentlemen  were  appointed : — Of  the  clergy,  Rev 
Messrs  Imbrie,  Magee  and  Riggs,  and  of  the  elders,  Messrs  Steward 
De  Witt  and  Meigs. 

Mr.  Imbrie  rose  and  said  in  effect,  that  as  this  case  tvas  an  exceedingly 
Important  one,  notice  should  be  given  through  the  papers  of  the  time  and 
place  of  the  investigation,  so  that  all  concerned  could  come  forward. 
The  committee  were  to  sit  as  a  Grand  Jury,  and  it  would  be  their  duty 
to  ascertain  first  of  all,  if  there  were  sufficient  grounds  for  a  case. 

Rev.  Mr.  Edwards  most  streoously  and  bitterly  opposed  this  propo¬ 
sition,  as  it  would  be  entirely  unprecedented.  For  his  part  he  thought 
that  the  committee  should  not  allow'  more  than  a  certain  number  of  wit¬ 
nesses  to  testify. 

Rev.  Mr.  Imbrie  replied  to  this  demonstration  quite  sharply.  He  said 
that  the  committee  would,  there  and  then,  give  notice  to  all  persons  having 
complaints  to  make,  to  come  forw  ard,  and  that  a  committee  had  been  ap¬ 
pointed  to  hear  them.  The  case  was  a  very  grave  one,  and  demanded 
the  fullest  investigation,  and  the  inquiry  should  be  so  conducted  that  »© 
person  could  come  forward  hereafter  and  say,  with  truth,  that  it  was 
partial  or  one  sided,  or  that  any  attempt  was  made  to  suppress  the  facts 
or  shield  the  guilty.  For  his  own  part,  as  chairman  of  the  committee, 
he  would  take  the  responsibility  of  giving  the  notice,  unless  the  Presby¬ 
tery  should  pass  a  resolution  to  the  contrary. 

Thereupon  the  committee  retired  for  deliberation  aud  soon  after  is'  u«  d 
the  following  notice: 

The  undersigned — having  been  appointed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey 
City  as  a  judical  committee,  to  consider  and  report  to  the  Presbytery, 
what  action  if  any,  is  to  be  taken  by  the  Presbytery,  in  the  case  of  the 
Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning,  who  has  applied  to  the  Presbytery  for  a 
thorough  investigation  of  certain  charges  alleged  against  his  moral  char, 
acter,  aud  current  in  this  community — give  the  public  notice,  that  the 
committee  will  meet  in  the  Prospect  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church.  Jersey 
City  Heights,  on  to-morrow,  Wednesday  afternoon  at  four  o'clock,  aud 
in  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  at  half  past  seven  o’clock.  At  said  meet¬ 
ing,  any  person,  or  persons,  who  have  charges  to  prefer  against  said  Rev. 
John  S.  Glendenning  in  this  case,  with  evidence  to  substantiate  ihe 
same,  will  be  freely  beard,  aud  any  papers  pertaining  to  the  case  wil'  t«. 
there  received. 

CHARLES  K.  IMBRIE. 
DAVID  MAGEE, 

HERMAN  C.  RIGGS, 

TYI.US  C.  MEIGS, 

ROBERT  STEWART, 

CUAS  A.  DE  WITT. 

Mr.  Glendenning  w'as  present  during  the  entire  proceedings. 

On  the  next  day  the  Presbytery  resumed  its  sessiou,  inaugurating  tb* 
proceedings  with  a  prayer  meeting,  during  »\  hich  Rev.  Mr.  Muuro* 
offered  up  au  earnest  prayer  for  l!  rot  her  Gleudtuuiiug. 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


21 


THE  REPORT. 

The  Judicial  Committee  in  reference  to  the  case  committed  to  them — 
viz.,  the  written  request  of  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning,  a  member  of 
the  Presbytery,  to  the  Presbytery  for  a  thorough  investigation  of  the 
charges  alleged  against  his  moral  character  and  now  current  in  this  com¬ 
munity — respectfully  report: 

That  according  to  their  published  notice  they  held  sessions  in  the 
Prospect  avenue  Presbyterian  church,  Jersey  City  Heights,  on  Wednes¬ 
day,  October  7,  from  four  o’clock  P.  M.  until  ten  o’clock  P.  M.  and  again 
on  Thursday,  October  8,  from  nine  o’clock  A.  M.  until  three  o’clock  P.  M., 
in  order  to  afford  opportunity  for  receiving  any  charges  that  might  be 
preferred  against  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendeuning,  aforesaid,  in  the  case  re¬ 
ferred  to  them,  together  with  any  testimony  that  might  be  offered  in 
support  of  the  same,  and  after  careful  examination  under  oath  of  a  suffi¬ 
cient  number  of  witnesses  among  those  offering  themselves  and  the  in¬ 
spection  of  several  official  documents  submitted  to  the  committee,  they 
find  that  enough  testimony  is  adduced  to  warrant  the  Presbytery  in  un¬ 
dertaking  the  investigation  of  the  following  charges  laid  against  the  Rev. 
John  S.  Glendenning,  viz.: 

First  Charge. — Seduction  of  and  illicit  intercourse  with  an  unmarried 
woman. 

Specification  First. — In  that  on  or  about  the  4th  day  of  July,  1873, 
the^Rev.  John  S.  Glendeuning  did,  under  promise  of  marriage,  seduce 
Miss  Mary  E.  Pomeroy,  formerly  of  Jersey  City  Heights  and  lately 
deceased. 

Specification  Second. — In  that  on  subsequent  occasions  the  Rev.  John 
S.  Glendenning  repeated  his  acts  with  the  said  Mary  E.  Pomeroy  at 
various  times  between  July  4,  1873,  and  July  1,  1874. 

Specification  Third. — In  that  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  repeated 
at  different  times  his  acts  of  intercourse  with  the  said  Mary  E.  Pomeroy 
between  the  dates  of  July  4,  1873,  and  July  1,  1874,  as  a  foresaid,  the 
same  resulting  in  the  birth  of  a  child  by  said  Mary  E.  Pomeroy. 

To  substantiate  the  above  charge  and  specifications  there  are  offered  ae 
testimony  two  affidavits — one  made  before  Thomas  Aldridge,  Justice  of 
the  Peace  in  Jersey  City,  by  Mary  E.  Pomeroy,  charging  bastardy  on 
the  said  John  S.  Glendenning;  the  other  now  in  the  hands  of  the  civil 
Court,  to  be  hereafter  submitted  ;  the  dying  statement  of  the  said  Mary 
Ellen  Pomeroy,  taken  by  the  said  Thomas  Aldridge,  and  in  his  posses¬ 
sion,  but  not  sworn  to  by  her;  also  the  following  corroborating  wit¬ 
nesses — viz.,  J.  S.  Miller,  Mrs.  Clara  H.  Randall,  Mrs.  Willard  Dudley, 
Mrs.  Fannie  S.  Birmingham,  Thomas  Aldridge,  Mrs.  Lizzie  E.  Reeve, 
Mis.  Caroline  D.  Wilson,  Mrs.  Sarah  R.  Graves,  together  with  others, 
as  mentioned  below. 


22 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


Second  Charge. — Breach  of  promise  of  marriage. 

Specification. — In  that  about  the  month  of  May  or  June,  A.  D.  18?3. 
the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  gave  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Pomeroy  an  eu. 
gagement  ring,  and  both  before  and  particularly  thereafter,  maintained 
with  her  such  intimate  intercourse  as  to  lead  to  a  conviction  on  the  par. 
of  others  of  the  existence  of  an  engagement  of  marriage  between  them, 
and  led  her  to  declare  the  existence  of  such  an  engagement  to  a  number 
of  parties.  And  that  notwithstanding  this  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glenden- 
ning  did  emphatically  refuse,  without  just  cause,  to  consummate  marriage 
with  her. 

To  substantiate  the  above  charge  there  is  offered  the  testimony  of  the 
following  witnesses — viz.,  Mr.  J.  S.  Miller,  Mrs.  Clara  H.  Randall,  Mrs. 
Lizzie  J.  Reeve,  Miss  Mary  Guilfoyle,  Mrs.  Caroline  I)  Wilson,  Mrs. 
Sarah  R.  Graves,  together  with  others,  as  mentioned  below. 

Third  Charge. — Falsehood. 

Specification. — In  that  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning,  having  visited 
some  time  previous  to  the  birth  of  the  child  of  Miss  Mary  E.  Pomeroy,  a 
hospital  in  Clinton  place,  city  of  New  York,  and  then  and  there,  having 
sought  to  procure  accommodation  for  a  woman  expecting  to  be  delivered 
of  a  child,  did  afterwards  deny  the  same  to  be  true. 

To  substantiate  the  above  charges,  there  is  offered  the  testimony 
Mrs.  Miller,  Julia  M.  Metz,  together  with  others;  also,  the  copy  of  a* 
affidavit  of  Mr.  Alfred  B.  Pomeroy. 

Fourth  Charge. — TJnministerial  and  unchristianlike  conduct. 

.  Specification  First. — In  that  about  eight  weeks  before  the  birth  of  Miss 
Mary  E  Pomeroy’s  child  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  did  procure  from 
her  by  means  of  threats  of  personal  violence  a  writing  exonerating  him 
from  blame  in  reference  to  her. 

To  substantiate  the  above  specification  of  charge  4,  there  is  offered  the 
testimony  of  the  foliowing  witnesses: — J.  S.  Miller,  Mrs.  Miller,  Clara  H 
Randall.  Lizzie  G.  Reeve,  Caroline  R.  Graves  and  others. 

Specification  Second. — In  that  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  compro. 
mised  his  Christian  character  by  making  Miss  E.  Pomeroy  so  many  and 
such  valuable  presents,  visiting  her  so  frequently  and  at  such  unseason, 
able  hours,  and  living  on  such  intimate  terms  with  her  as  to  occasion 
public  suspicion  of  impropriety,  especially  as  he  was  understood  at  the 
same  time  to  declare  that  no  more  than  the  ordinary  relations  of  life  sub. 
sisted  between  them. 

To  substantiate  the  above  specification  of  charge  4  there  is  offered  the 
testimony  of  the  following  witnesses :  J.  S.  Miller,  Clara  H.  Randall, 
M  iss  Mary  Guilfoyle,  Lizzie  G.  Reeve  and  others. 

In  corrobation  of  the  above  charges  and  specifications  the  testimony  oi 
the  following  witnesses  are  also  offered  as  to  the  various  parts  of  the  same 

(Here  follows  a  long  list  of  witnesses.) 


POOH  MARY  POMEROY. 


22 


Toe  committee  would  therefore  recommend  to  the  Presbytery  to 
/uderiake  the  investigation  of  the  above  charges  and  specifications, 
and  to  prosecute  them  to  an  issue  according  to  the  rules  laid  down  in 
our  book.  They  further  recommend  that  for  this  purpose  a  prosecuting 
committee  of  two  be  appointed  by  the  Presbytery  (according  to  the 
method  prescribed  in  the  case  of  charges  preferred  on  the  ground  of 
common  causes),  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  conduct  the  prosecution  of 
the  case,  and  inasmuch  as  the  book  allows  an  accused  person  the  aid  of 
any  minister  or  elder  in  the  Presbytery  as  counsellor  to  aSsist  him  in' 
conducting  his  case,  the  committee  recommend  that  a  committee  of  such 
counsellors  equal  to  the  number  of  the  proposed  prosecuting  committee, 
and  selected  from  the  members  of  the  Presbytery  by  the  accused,  be  ac¬ 
credited  to  him  to  aid  in  his  defence. 

And,  further,  inasmuch  as  the  charges  to  be  investigated  have  excited 
a  strong  and  widely  spread  public  interest  and  a  natural  desire  that  the 
trial  should  be  open  to  the  public,  the  committee  would  recommend  that 
the  Presbytery  grant  permission  to  any  accredited  reporter  of  the  public 
press  to  be  present  to  take  notes;  and,  also,  that  the  door  should  be  open 
to  as  many  other  persons  of  the  public  besides  as  the  room  in  which  the 
Presbytery  holds  its  sessions  can  comfortably  accommodate,  consistent  with 
the  Presbytery’s  own  convenience — it  being  understood  that  any  such 
persons  so  admitted  shall  be  subject  to  exclusiou  after  proof  of  abusing 
this  privilege.  All  ol  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

CHARLES  K.  IMBRIE, 

.  HERMAN  C.  RIGGS, 

TITUS  B.  MEIGS, 

DAVID  MAGIE, 

CHARLES  A.  DE  WITT, 

ROBERT  STEWART, 

Judical  Committee. 

In  response  to  the  committee’s  invitation  for  all  parties  who  could 
testify  in  the  matter  on  hand  there  were  a  large  number  of  persons  pre¬ 
sented  themselves  for  that  purpose.  They  were  accommodated  with  seats 
in  the  meeting  room  of  the  elders  behind  the  pulpit.  At  the  hour  of  four 
the  meeting  duely  began  its  inquisition.  Among  those  present  promptly 
at  the  time  named  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller,  the  guardians  of  Mary 
Pomeroy,  Mr.  Huyler  Demotte,  Mr.  J.  P.  Talson  and  his  son,  Mr.  Wil¬ 
lard  E  Dudley,  Ex  Mayor  Sawyer,  Ex  Recorder  Aldridge,  Mr.  Osbourne, 
Mr.  Charles  Northup,  Mr.  Albert  Metz,  Mr.  Randall,  Mr.  Thorpe,  Mr. 
Theteher,  Mrs.  Sawyer,  Mrs.  Graves,  Mrs.  Metz,  Mrs.  Congar,  Mrs. 
Rirmingham,  Mrs.  Theteher,  Miss  Jennie  Miller,  Mrs.  Reeves,  Mrs. 
Grattan,  Mrs.  Randall,  and  Mrs.  Dudley.  These  were  the  most  im¬ 
portant  witnesses  of  which  latter  altogether  there  were  more  than  fifty. 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


21 

Mrs.  Birmingham  and  Mrs.  Walcott  sat  beside  the  death  bed  of  Miss 
Pomeroy  and  to  them  it  was  that  the  poor,  perishing  girl  unburdened 
her  breaking,  dying  heart  of  its  fearful  load  of  misery  and  despair. 

The  first  witness  called  was  Mr.  J.  Smith  Miller.  He  was  sworn  in 
accordance  with  the  constitution  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  no  person 
being  present  but  him  and  the  committee.  The  examination  of  this  wit¬ 
ness  was  very  tedious,  occupying  two  hours  and  a  half.  The  evidence 
was  written  out  by  the  Secretary  of  the  committee,  the  President  at  the 
same  time  taking  notes.  Mr.  Miller  testified  that  Mary  E.  Pomeroy  had 
lived  in  his  family  for  eighteen  years,  twelve  of  which  were  passed  in 
the  house  with  himself  and  his  wile;  her  father  and  mother  were  dead; 
she  was  born  in  Seneca  county,  New  York;  two  years  ago  she  became 
acquainted  with  the  Rev.  Johu  S  Glendenning,  who  soon  became  a  con¬ 
stant  visitor  at  his  (Miller’s)  house;  for  four  or  five  mouths  previous  to 
Miss  Pomeroy’s  death  he  called  as  often  as  three  and  four  times  a  week 
and  would  remain  sometimes  till  midnight,  chatting  with  her  in  the  par¬ 
lor;  witness  never  suspected  auything  wrong  for  he  t  hought  that  a  pastor 
would  be  the  last  man  to  arouse  suspicion;  Miss  Pomeroy  was  always 
carefully  watched  aud  guarded,  and  was  never  allowed  to  be  alone  in  the 
company  of  any  man  but  Glendenning;  witness  was  particularly  watch¬ 
ful  over  her  because^she  was  an  orphan;  she  was  of  most  exemplary 
habits  and  very  talented  ;  she  gave  lessons  in  music  aud  became  orgauist 
in  Glendenning’s  church ;  Glendeuniug  gave  her  numerous  presents,  in. 
eluding  a  pair  of  gold  earrings,  a  pair  of  gold  bracelets  and  au  engage¬ 
ment  ring,  on  which  was  engraved  the  words — “two  hearts  in  one;” 
this  ring  he  afterwards  took  back  from  her  on  some  trivial  preteuce  a  few 
months  before  her  death.  (Mr.  Miller  here  exhibited  some  of  the  articles 
of  jewelry  )  On  the  Sunday  night  before  Glendenning’s  arrest  he  escorted 
Miss  Pomeroy  home  from  the  church  after  evening  service.  Mr.  Miller 
then  detailed  the  circumstances  of  the  arrest  of  Glendenning  on  the  charge 
of  bastardy,  the  proceedings  iu  the  charge  of  seduction,  and  the  suit  tot: 
breach  of  promise  of  marriage. 

Chairman. — Have  you  the  documents  in  these  cases  iu  your  pos¬ 
session  ? 

Witness. — Yes,  all  but  the  affidavit  in  the  breach  of  promise  case;  it  is 
filed  iu  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Trenton,  but  Mr. 
Linn,  who  was  the  counsel  for  the  plaintiff,  has  writteu  for  a  certified 
copy  of  it  to  Trenton;  Justice  Aldridge  will  produce  the  other  papers 
when  he  appears  before  you.  Mr.  Miller  detailed  the  conversations  he 
had  with  Miss  Pomeroy  concerning  her  relations  with  Glendenning  and, 
his  own  interview  with  the  pastor  when  the  latter  was  arrested  and 
brought  face  to  face  with  the  injured  girl. 

Mrs.  Miller  was  the  next  witness  called.  Her  testimony  was  a  corrob 
♦ration  of  that  offered  by  her  husband.  The  most  striking  part  of  it  w* 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY". 


2T 


si-  account  of  (he  interview  between  her  and  Dr.  Hubbard,  superinten- 
?nt  of  the  institution  for  foundlings  in  Clinton  place,  New  York.  She 
id  called  in  company  with  Alfred  B.  Pomeroy  at  three  institutions  for 
undlings  ill  New  York  where  she  desired  t'o  have  Miss  Pomeroy’s  in* 
nt  brought  up,  but  the  conditions  were  so  exacting  that  she  refused  to 
;cept  them.  When  she  called  at  the  Clinton  place  institution  and 
ated  the  object  of  her  visit  she  was  asked  questions  as  to  her  place  of 
sidence,  &c. ;  she  was  then  informed  that  a  gentleman  had  been  there 
me  weeks  before  making  arrangements  to  have  a  young  lady  admitted’ 
to  the  institution,  “as  she  was  in  trouble;”  in  the  conversation  which 
■lowed  Glendenning  was  described  so  accurately  that  Mrs.  Miller  said, 
^hy,  Doctor,  you  astound  me;  it  cannot  be;”  to  which  the  doctor 
id,  “Well,  then,  you  had  better  go  and  see  the  matron,  and  she  will 
1  you,  for  she  saw  the  man  ;  ”  the  matron’s  testimony  of  the  fact  proved 
be  stronger  than  the  doctor’s;  Mrs.  Miller  went  home  and  returned  to 
a  institution,  bearing  a  photograph  of  Glendenning,  which  the  matron 
once  identified,  saying,  “That  is  the  man.” 

Mrs.  Miller  was  here  asked  several  questions  by  the  Chairman  touch- 
fcer  recollection  of  the  actual  conversation  between  her  and  those  al- 
ed  to,  and  she  replied  that  it  was  too  vividly  impressed  on  her  mind 
ae  easily  forgotten.  Her  examination  was  conducted  at  great  len?tb. 
i tuat,  owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  nearly  all  the  other  witnesses 
|  th®  church.  Only  three  ladies  and  two  gentlemen  remained. 

’he  examination  will  be  continued  to-day  and  brought  to  a  close,  as 
secietaiy  of  the  committee  announced  that  it  would  not  be  necessary 
all  all  the  witnesses.  The  committee,  it  is  but  just  to  state,  labored 
t  indefatigable,  and  did  not  even  adjourn  for  supper.  Their  session 
led  seven  hours  without  intermission.  They  are  determined  to  ex- 
[  te  the  business  so  that  the  case  may  be  reported  to-day  to  the 
!i  ibytery. 

j  ne  of  the  witnesses,  Mr.  Talson,  a  venerable  gentleman  said: _ “Al- 

y  1  cannot  conveniently  attend  to-morrow  I  will  sink  all  other  busi- 
5i,  for  this  is  a  case  where  every  man  who  has  a  family  should  sustain 
|l  nnoceat.  My  son,  however,  will  be  in  attendance.” 


THE  TRIAL. 

pi  October  14tb,  the  regular  trial  before  the  Presbytery  commenced, 
h  Moderator,  Rev.  Mr.  Wall,  occupied  the  chair.  Prayer  was  offered 
t  e  Rev.  Mr.  Edwards,  who  implored  the  Lord  to  guide  the  Court  to 

piteous  conclusion  on  the  grave  question  before  them _ viz.,  the  trial 

|e  Rev-  John  S-  Glendenning.  The  latter  was  seated  beside  his 
hjel,  Rev.  Messrs.  Dodd  and  WaH.  The  prosecuting  counsel.  Rev. 

I 


28 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


Messrs.  Imbrie  and  Riggs,  were  also  in  attendance.  Mr.  Winfield,  t 
legal  adviser  of  the  accused  pastor,  was  among  the  spectators,  as  well 
a  host  of  witnesses  in  the  case  ladies  and  gentlemen. 

Tha  Moderator  opened  by  announcing  that  the  services  of  a  stei 
grapher  would  cost  $50  a  day.  A  resolution  was  thereupon  passed  tl 
no  stenographer  be  employed.  The  matter  was  afterward  reconsider 
and  it  was  resolved  to  employ  a  stenographer  at  a  moderate  renumerath 

if  practicable.  _  J 

The  Moderator  said  it  would  be  necessary,  now  that  the  trial  was  be) 

entered  upon,  for  Mr.  Glendenning  to  plead  again.  The  latter  repli 
“Mr.  Moderator,  before  I  plead  again  I  ask  that  the  specification 
amended  be  read.” 

The  Moderator— The  clerk  will  read  all  the  charges  and  specificatic 
The  clerk  complied,  and  when  he  concluded  the  reading  the  Modera 
turning  to  Glendenning,  said,  “Do  you  plead  guilty  or  not  guilty?”  r 
latter  answered,  “Not  guilty.” 

Counsel  for  the  defence,  Rev.  Mr.  Dodd,  then  moved  that  the  gen 
principles  of  law  adopted  by  the  civil  courts,  in  so  far  as  they  do  not  ( 
flict  with  the  constitution  of  the  Church  or  the  Book  of  Discipline 
adopted  by  the  Presbytery. 

Mr.  Dodd's  resolution  was  put  and  lost.  The  Moderator  then 
nounced  that  the  Court  was  ready  to  proceed  with  the  trial.  Dr.  Im 
thereupon  arose  and  opened  the  case  for  the  prosecution.  He  sail 
Here  is  a  pastor  who  had  preserved  a  good  reputation  from  the  first 
we  knew  him  up  to  the  time  when  he  was  charged  with  the  commis 
of  a  foul  crime.  In  this  case  the  highest,  the  holiest  affections  of 
heart  were  involved  in  the  issue.  Justice  is  to  be  done  to  the  relai 
of  her  who  has  passed  from  the  stage  of  this  life.  The  reputation  of 
Church  is  involved.  I  earnestly  hope  that  if  the  accused  be  iunocet 
may,  by  the  providened  of  God,  be  enablec  to  see  his  innocence  so  cl. 
that  he  will  come  out  of  this  trial  in  the  eyes  of  the  community  full; 
dicated.  There  are  four  charges  presented  against  this  defendant, 
first  is  for  the  seduction  of  and  illicit  intercourse  with  an  unma 
woman.  In  support  of  the  charge  and  specification  we  are  going  t 
duce  three  kinds  of  testimony.  There  is  an  affidavit  which  was  mac 
fore  Justice  Aldridge  charging  bastardy;  there  is  another  affidavii  c 
ing  seduction  and  breach  of  promise  of  marriage.  M  e  contend  th| 
holding  of  Glendenning  to  bail  by  Judge  Bedle  is  a  strong  circuit 
in  itself  to  warrant  a  strict  investigation  of  the  charge.  The  piosec 
is  perfectly  aware  that  this  testimony  would  not  be  admissible  in  i 
court,  because  the  person  who  made  the  affidavits  is  gone  before  a  1 
tribunal  than  any  in  this  world.  We  have  next  the  dying  statem 
Miss  Pomeroy.  We  are  aware  that  under  this  civil  law  such  a: 
ment  would  only  be  admissible  in  cases  of  homicide.  But  when  we 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


2$ 


3ii  under  what  circumstances  this  statement  was  made  you  will  find 
iere  is  a  moral  weight  in  it  which  we  cannot  disregard.  We  shall  prove 
e  frequent  visits  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Miller,  affording  an  opportunity 
r  the  situation,  and  will  produce  such  a  chain  of  circumstances  as  shall 
ove  corroborative  testimony  of  her  affidavits.  In  regard  to  the  breach 
promise  of  marriage  we  shall  show  that  the  affidavit  of  Miss  Pomeroy  , 
is  considered  so  strong  by  a  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  (Judge 
idle)  that  he  felt  justified  in  holding  Glendenuing  to  bail.  I  regret 
it  the  officers  of  the  institution  in  Clinton  place,  New  York,  to  which 
is  alleged,  Glendenuing  paid  a  visit,  found  it  necessary  to  prohibit  the 
endance  of  an  important  witness,  whose  testimony  would  be  most  valu- 
in  this  case.  I  regret  it  for  the  sake  of  Mary  Pomeroy’s  memory 
for  the  sake  of  Mr.  Glendenuing  himself.  We  shall  be  obliged,  on 
point,  to  introduce  indirect  testimony.  Lest  there  should  be  any 
ibt  as  to  the  credibility  of  the  testimony  of  Mary  Pomeroy  we  shall 
duce  a  large  number  of  witnesses  who  will  testify  to  her  good  char- 
r,  showing  that  she  was  admitted  into  the  best  society.  The  com- 
lity  are  looking  to  us  for  a  just  solution  of  this  case,  and  I  pray  God 
He  may  guide  us  in  arriving  at  a  just  conclusion.  (Here  the  Pros- 
,or  paused  a  moment,  while  a  faint  murmur  of  applause  ran  through 
assemblage.)  Now,  Mr.  Moderator,  in  the  first  place  I  will  offer  in 
ence  the  affidavit  of  Mary  Pomeroy. 

r.  James  Smith  Miller  was  the  first  witness.  He  testvfied  as  fol* 
i:— I  live  in  Yan  Reipen  aveuue,  Jersey  City  ;  have  known  Rev. 

1  S.  Glendenning  for  two  years;  I  was  acquainted  with  Mary  E. 
eroy;  she  was  my  cousin  and  lived  at  my  house  about  eight  vears- 
ived  previously  with  my  father’s  family;  her  mother  died  when  Marv 
quite  young;  when  my  father  and  mother  broke  up  house  she  came 
e  with  me;  she  was  organist  in  Mr.  Glendenning’s  church  and  re- 
d  pay  as  such;  Glendenning  often  visited  my  house;  he  first  came 
two  years  ago;  he  would  come  with  hymns;  while  she  was  playing 
'  Piau0  Glendenning  would  stand  or  sit  beside  her;  he  came  every 
day  night  for  a  few  months;  then  his  visits  increased;  I  have  seen 
it  my  house  as  often  as  three  times  in  one  week;  I  came  home  as 
is  twelve  o’clock  at  night  and  found  him  in  my  parlor  with  Miss 
roy;  he  gave  her  presents;  she  told  me  so;  among  them  was  a 
i  set  of  earrings,  a  watch  and  chain,  a  thimble,  sleeve  buttons  and 
(the  seveial  articles  were  here  produced  and  identified);  he  gave 
’0  a  lieavy  gold  ring,  about  the  last  of  May  or  beginning  of  Junp, 
she  made  a  remark  to  my  wTife  which  I  did  not  hear,  and  mv  wife 
,  “Why,  this  looks  like  business.” 

Ansel  for  defence  here  objected  to  the  reception  of  this  testimony, 
Jiiile  the  discussion  on  this  question  was  being* carried  on  the  Court 
nhe  d 


El 

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30 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


On  ibc  second  day  Mr.  J.  S.  Miller  resumed  the  witness  stand  an 
testified  Miss  Pomeroy  showed  me  her  present  (the  engagement  ring 
and  I  said,  “Why  this  means  business;”  she  answered,  “les,  he  dot 

meau  business.” 

Counsel  for  the  defence  objected  and  the  Moderator  sustained  ibe  o 

jection.  . 

Dr.  Imbrie  appealed  from  the  decision.  He  said  that  if  such  a  rum 

should  stand  and  the  line  of  testimony  now  being  offered  be  regarded 
merely  hearsay  evidence  aud  inadmissible  as  direct  testimony  the  pioi 
cution  might  as  well  stop.  Miss  Pomeroy  was  dead,  and  the  only  t< 
timouy  they  could  adduce  would  be  her  reported  conversations.  Th 
bad  already  decided  by  a  solemn  note  that  they  were  not  to  be  govern 
by  the  rules  of  a  civil  court  Yet  he  found  that  objections  against  a  certi 
class  of  evidence  were  constantly  springing  up.  They  were  sitting  a 
body  to  get  at  the  truth,  aud  they  ought  not  to  be  hampered  by  tech 
calities  and  frivolous  objections. 

The  Moderator’s  decision  was  sustained.  Dr.  Imbrie  then  asked 
Moderator  what  constituted  testimony  in  the  case,  as  there  was  no 
in  proceeding  further  if  all  the  testimony  which  the  prosecution  belt 
be  relevant  aud  of  vital  importance  were  to  be  ruled  out.  1  he  Model'* 
replied  that  the  Court  would  refuse  to  accept  Miss  Pomeroy’s  affiua 
as  testimony,  but  would  admit  them  as  information. 

Rev.  Mr.  Edwards  said  that  the  Moderator  assumed  to  much  in  n 
ing  that  sweeping  declaration  in  public.  He  had  not  the  right  to  dec 
what  Constituted  testimony.  The  Presbytery  alone  had  the  right, 
they  were  fully  competent  to  control  the  matter. 

After  a  debate,  which  at  one  time  promised  to  continue  the  w 
afternoon,  counsel  for  the  defence  withdrew  their  objections,  aud 

Miller  resumed.  _  i 

Miss  Pomeroy  said  to  me,  “He  means  business,  and  he  intends  t< 

you  in  a  few  days;”  I  was  examining  the  ring  at  the  time;  there 
some  inscription  inside  the  riug,  but  I  don’t  know  what  it  was;  it 
either  in  Latin  or  French  ;  I  have  not  the  ring  now ;  she  said  she  gt 
back  to  Mr.  Gleudenniug  for  the  purpose  of  getting  something  on 
words  to  that  effect ;  three  or  four  weeks  after  she  showed  me  the 
she  said  that  Mr.  Glendenning  was  very  desirous  to  see  me:  I  inf 
it  was  in  reference  to  the  proposed  marriage  between  them;  they  \ 
Bit  together  for  a  long  time  in  the  back  parlor  with  the  folding 
closed  while  we  would  be  in  the  other  parlor;  he  would  address  I 
ray  hearing  as  “  Mary,”  she  called  him  “Glen  ;»  I  first  became  cUgfl 
of  the  fact  that  she  was  pregnant  on  the  Monday  evening  before! 
denning’s  arrest  ;  1  consulted  my  lawyer  and  he  advised  me  to  gl 
see  Mr  Glendenning  and  that  perhaps  he  would  come  like  a  mal 
marry  her,  but  that  in  case  he  refused  we  had  better  be  prepare! 


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POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


33 


had  him  first  arrested  on  tbe  charge  of  bastardy  to  prevent  his  going 
away;  when  the  officer  arrested  him  he  took  him  to  my  house;  my  wife 
was  talking  to  him  in  the  parlor;  I  asked  Miss  Pomeroy  in  his  presence 
whose  child  that  was  and  she  replied,  “Glen,  I  have  deceived  you — it  is 
yoilrs;”  he  replied,  “Mary,  you  wouldn’t  say  so  if  it  were  not  for  the 
present  surrounding,”  or  words  to  that  effect;  Mr.  Northrup  was  in  my 
house  and  he  said  to  Mr.  Glendenning  that  he  was  sorry  to  see  him  in 
such  a  situation;  Glendenning  replied,  “Keep  your  sympathies  to  your¬ 
self,  for  you  will  need  them  more  than  I  will  before  we  get  out  of  this 
thing;”  Miss  Pomeroy  told  me  that  when  he  attempted  the  seduction  she 
refused,  and  he  said  it  was  all  right,  that  they  would  soon  be  man  and 
wife,  as  soon  as  he  had  all  his  arrangements  made;  on  tbe  night  of  the 
*rrest  Mr.  Glendenning  said  that  he  had  documents  to  prove  h's  inno¬ 
cence;  I  asked  Miss  Pomeroy  what  these  documents  were,  and  she  said 
that  she  had  signed  a  paper  to  shield  him  from  blame,  but  she  did  not 
know  what  the  paper  contained ;  he  came  to  her  one  evening  and  handed 
her  a  paper  telling  her  to  write  as  he  dictated;  after  writing  some  limes 
she  refused  to  write  any  more  saying  that  it  was  not  true  ;  he  told  her 
she  must  write ;  when  she  had  finished  he  told  her  to  sign  it  and  she  re¬ 
fused;  he  said,  “Mary,  look  at  the  position  I  am  placed  in;  there  are 
oiy  mother  and  sister,  and  if  we  are  found  out  I  am  a  ruined  man,  I  will 
be  brought  before  the  Presbytery  and  Synod;”  she  still  refused  and  he 
drew  a  pistol  from  his  pocket,  held  it  over  her  head  and  compelled  her  to 
sign  it;  she  told  me  that  she  could  not  remember  what  that  paper  con¬ 
tained,  she  was  so  excited  and  confused  at  the  time. 

Counsel  for  tbe  defence  asked  for  a  recess  to  enable  them  to  have  a 
iopy  of  the  testimony  of  this  witness,  as  they  intended  to  object  to  a  great 
part  of  it.-  This  proposition  led  to  a  long  debate.  Pr.  Imbrie  said  that 
Brother  Glendenning  asked  this  Presbytery  to  investigate  certain  charges 
igainst  him.  How  can  the  investigation  take  place  if  he  persists  in  ob- 
ecting  to  the  testimony  against  him  at  every  stage  of  the  case?  He  was 
low  under  a  cloud,  and  if  this  testimony  were  to  be  excluded  there  would 
>e  an  end  to  the  case  and  Mr.  Glendenning  would  remain  under  the  cloud 
ill  his  dying  day. 

Rev.  Mr.  Mesereau  said  that  if  the  accused  brother  would  not  admit 
he  solemn,  dying  statement  and  the  affidavits  of  the  dead  girl  then,  no 
tatter  what  course  the  Presbytery  might  take,  that  man  would  be  mo- 
ally  dead  as  long  as  he  lives.  (Here  there  was  a  murmur  of  applause  ) 

Rev.  Mr.  Booth  said  that  the  glory  of  God  and  the  honor  of  the  Church 
em&nded  that  the  Presbytery  should  probe  the  case  to  the  bottom.  He 
Jgretted,  for  the  sake  of  Mr.  Glendenning  himself,  that,  he  should  go 
>rth  to  the  world  with  this  case  undecided  or  decided  on  insufficient 
rounds,  for  no  Church  in  the  country  would  look  at  him.  If  the  civil 

3 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


31 

eourts  had  dealt  with  the  case  Mr.  Glendenning  would  hare  to  father  the 
child  or  otherwise.  It  the  Presbytery  were  to  take  shelter  under  the 
technicalities  which  debarred  the  case  from  the  civil  courts  then  Mr. 
Glendenning  would  stand  at  the  close  of  this  case  as  he  did  at  the  be¬ 
ginning. 

Rev.  Mr.  Eddy  said  he  felt  compelled  to  declare  that  every  word  of 
the  special  pleading  on  the  part  of  couusel  for  the  defence  fell  like  a  ham¬ 
mer  on  the  head  of  Mr.  Glendenning.  Here  the  Rev.  Mr.  Harkness 
jumped  to  his  feet  and  called  Mr.  Eddy  to  order.  He  became  so  excited 
that  the  brethren  burst  into  laughter,  at  wrhich  he  fairly  boiled  with  in¬ 
dignation. 

Dr.  Imbrie  hoped  for  Mr.  Glendenning's  sake  that  the  defence  would 
not  persist  in  their  course  of  objections,  for  a  judgment  arrived  at  in  the 
abseuce  of  the  very  testimony  on  which  the  case  is  actually  based  would 
be  set  aside  by  the  verdict  of  the  community.  Mr.  Glendenning  would 
go  forth  under  a  darker  cloud  than  before  aud  stand  condemned  before 
the  public. 

Glendenning  here  interrupted  him  by  saying,  “Condemned  on  what?” 

Rev.  Mr.  Dodd  said  that  if  the  recess  he  asked  for  till  next  day  were 
not  granted,  to  give  him  an  opportunity  of  consulting  some  prominent 
legal  gentlemen  regarding  the  admissibility  or  exclusion  of  a  certain  class 
of  testimony,  he  should  say  firmly  he  would  retire  from  the  conduct  ol 
the  defence.  A  motion  was  then  offered  and  adopted  that  a  recess  be 
taken  till  half-past  one  o'clock. 


TIIIRD  AND  FOURTH  DAY. 

Mr.  D?dd.  for  the  defence,  submitted  to  the  Presbytery  that  while  the; 
were  perfectly  willing,  if  the  Presbytery  should  so  decide,  that  the  tria 
should  proceed  and  that  all  testimony  be  admitted,  they  declined  to  warn 
their  legal  rights  in  the  case,  and  they  reserved  to  themselves  the  righ’ 
to  sift  all  the  testimony  at  the  summiug  up  of  the  case,  to  demand  tb< 
exclusion  of  hearsay  testimony,  and  to  protest  against  any  verdict  by  th» 
Presbytery  if  hearsay  testimony  were  admitted.  He  said  that  he  hat 
consulted  an  eminent  jurist,  aud  from  the  advice  he  received  he  felt  com 
pelled  to  take  this  course. 

Rev.  Mr.  Edwards  submitted  that  Mr.  Dodd  violated  the  spirit  of  tb« 
Book  of  Discipline  in  going  outside  of  the  Presbytery  to  consult  profee 
6ional  counsel 

Mr.  Dodd. — He  is  an  elder  of  the  Church 

Mr.  Edwards. — That  makes  no  difference. 

After  some  remarks  bv  Dr.  Magee  a  resolution  consenting  to  the 
ition  assumed  by  the  defence  was  put  and  carried. 


POOR  MART  POMEROY. 


35 


The  cross-examination  of  Mr.  Miller  was  then  commenced: — Mary 
Pomeroy  was  eighteen  years  old  when  she  came  to  live  with  me;  her 
father  died  three  or  four  years  ago;  she  has  only  one  brother  living;  he 
is  in  Michigan;  the  reason  she  came  to  live  with  me  was  because  when 
her  father  married  the  second  time  she  disliked  to  live  with  her  step¬ 
mother;  Miss  Pomeroy’s  pay,  as  organist  of  the  Prospect  avenue  Pres¬ 
byterian  church,  was  $100  a  year;  she  used  to  give  it  to  me  as  custodiau 
for  her;  I  gave  her  no  receipt,  nor  did  I  keep  any  book  account;  during 
the  time  Mr.  Glendenning  was  visiting  Miss  Pomeroy  no  other  gentle¬ 
man  visited  her ;  she  did  not  receive  presents  from  any  other  gentleman ; 
I  presented  her  with  a  ring  which  contained  a  stone  that  resembled 
amethyst;  there  was  no  inscription  on  it;  I  have  not  the  ring  with  me, 
bat  I  will  produce  it ;  I  think  1  know  whei’e  the  chain  and  locket  and 
thimble  and  sleeve  buttons  presented  to  Miss  Pomeroy  by  Mr.  Glenden¬ 
ning  were  bought;  Mr.  Rochette,  of  Jersey  City  Heights,  told  me  a  week 
ago  that  he  believed  he  sold  them  to  Mr.  Glendenning;  my  brother, 
Abijah  B.  Miller,  and  my  brother-in-law,  Thomas  H.  Jones,  stopped  for 
some  time  at  my  house  ;  they  were  there  at  the  same  time  ;  Mr.  Miller  is 
about  thirty-two  years  of  age  and  Mr.  Jones  about  twenty-six  ;  I  was 
seldom  out  late  in  the  evening,  certainly  never  out  of  the  street ;  if  I  were 
out  late  my  wife  would  not  wait  up  for  me;  the  conversation  between 
me  and  Miss  Pomeroy  in  regard  to  the  engagement  ring  I  have  related 
correctly;  I  asked  her  who  gave  her  the  present,  and  she  answered  that 
it  was  Mr.  Glendenning;  the  reason  she  stated  for  giving  it  back  to  Mr. 
Glendenning  was  that  she  wanted  to  have  the  inscription  changed;  in 
regard  to  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Glendenning  we  felt  encouraged  by  his 
visits,  and  we  thought  that  in  him  she  would  get  a  good  man  ;  never 
spoke  to  Mr.  Glendenning  about  marrying  Miss  Pomeroy,  nor  did  I  ask 
him  his  intentions  on  the  subject,  but  I  said  to  Miss  Pomeroy  three  or 
four  times  in  presence  of  my  wife,  that  I  must  go  down  and  see  Mr. 
Glendenning  in  regard  to  his  intentions;  my  wife  said  I  had  better  wait 
and  have  a  talk  with  Mary  herself;  we  did  have  a  talk  with  Mary,  and 
she  said  that  it  was  all  right;  my  wife  then  said  wTe  had  better  let  the 
thing  remain  so  for  the  present;  this  conversation  passed  before  Mary 
Received  the  engagement  ring ;  I  did  not  remain  up  at  night  while  Mr. 
Glendenning  and  Miss  Pomeroy  would  be  together  at  a  late  hour  because 
I  always  had  confidence  that  Mr.  Glendenning  would  do  nothing  but 
what  was  right;  when  my  wife  first  discovered  that  Mary  was  pregnant 
she  came  to  me  and  said  that  Mary  had  been  committing  a  fearful  act;  I 
don’t,  remember  how  long  the  conversation  between  me  and  my  wife 
lasted  on  the  subject  just  then,  for  we  were  so  dumfounded  we  could 
hardly  speak ;  I  was  overcome  with  indignation  at  the  thought  that  such 
a  thing  could  occur  under  my  roof;  Mary  did  not  speak  a  word  ;  she 
lay  with  her  head  in  my  wife’s  lap;  some  of  the  neighbors  came  into  my 


36 


POOR  MART  POMEROT. 


house  that  evening,  but  I  can't  remember  the  exact  language  thev  used; 
they  denounced  Mr.  Gleudenning ;  [  applied  to  counsel  in  the  matter  and 
he  advised  me  to  have  some  friends  go  and  see  Mr.  Glendenuing  and  see 
if  he  would  come  aud  marry  the  girl ;  I  acted  on  this  advice  and  Mr. 
Northrup  aud  Mr.  Randall  went  to  Mr.  Glendenuing;  my  counsel  also 
advised  me  that  in  case  Mr.  Gleudenning  refused  I  ought  to  have  a  war¬ 
rant  out  for  his  arrest;  Mr.  Glendenuing  was  out  on  the  stoop  of  Mr. 
HallowelPs  house  in  the  evening  aud  after  some  conversation  they  moved 
•out  and  walked  together  to  Mr.  Gleudenniug’s  house;  Mr.  Northrup  and 
Mr.  Randall  followed  them  ;  I  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  in 
company  with  an  officer;  Mr  Glendenning  and  Mr.  Hallowell  stood  talk¬ 
ing  together  so  long  that  Mr.  Northrup  and  Mr.  Randall  became  im¬ 
patient  and  remarked  to  me  that  they  would  stop  there  talking  till  morn- 
ing ;  the  officer  then  said,  “The  best  tbiug  to  be  done  is  to  arrest  hint 
there  now ;”  Mr.  Glendenning  was  thereupon  arrested ;  my  wife  asked 
Mary  in  the  presence  of  me  and  my  counsel  if  any  other  person  had  ever 
seduced  her,  and  she  replied  that  no  other  man  ever  did  ;  when  Mi 
Glendenning  was  brought  by  the  officer  face  to  face  with  Mary  in  my 
house  I  asked  her  whose  child  that  was,  and  she  answered  it  was  Mr. 
Glendenning’s ;  she  used  the  words,  “Glen,  I  have  deceived  you;  it  ie 
yours;”  1  did  not  know  what  she  meant  by  that,  and  I  asked  her  after¬ 
wards  for  an  explanation  ;  she  told  me  in  (reply  that  on  the  night  Mr. 
Glendenning  held  the  pistol  over  her  and  made  her  sign  the  paper,  h« 
took  her  hand,  made  her  place  it  on  the  Bible  that  was  lying  on  the  table, 
and  swear  that  she  would  never  divulge  what  bad  passed,  come  what 
may.  (Sensation.) 

Witness  then  proceeded  to  describe  minutely  the  scene  in  the  parlor 
when  Glendenning  was  brought  in  by  the  officer  When  Miss  Pomeroy 
caught  the  first  sight  of  Glendenuing  she  staggered  forward  and  would 
have  fallen  had  Glendenning  not  caught  her;  the  language  used  by  wit¬ 
ness  to  Mary  was,  “Here  is  your  seducer;  if  he  be.  say  so  to  him;  if 
not,  say  so  to  his  face  ;”  when  witness  first  heard  the  report  going  around 
that  Mr.  Glendenning  had  a  document  which  was  to  shield  him  in  the 
case,  witness  urged  Mary'  to  tell  him  what  that  document  contained,  lei 
weight  fall  where  it  might;  Mr.  Gleudenning  had  given  ou*  through  hi* 
counsel  that  the  blame  would  come  nearer  home. 

Mr.  Glendenning. — Can  I  interrupt  the  witness? 

Counsel  for  defence. — No,  no. 

Mr.  Wall. — Mr.  Miller,  yrou  stated  that  several  friends  collected  in  your 
house  in  reference  to  her  seduction.  Did  you  not  fear  that  publicity 
would  defeat  the  object  you  had  in  view  ? 

Witness. — Not  at  all;  I  knew  I  could  trust  those  persons  who  called. 

Counsel  for  defence  then  asked  for  a  suspension  of  the  examination  fd 
order  that  a  commission  might  be  appointed  to  take  testimony  on  the 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


3T 


part  of  the  defence,  as  some  witnessess  for  the  defence  are  about  to  leave 
for  a  distant  part  of  the  country.  A  motion  to  that  effect  was  agreed  to, 
and  the  Moderator  appointed  Rev.  Mr.  Eddy  and  Mr.  Martin. 

Several  questions  were  put  to  Mr.  Miller  by  members  of  the  Presbytery. 
He  stated  that  Mr.  Glendenning’s  frequent  visits  to  his  bouse  ceased 
about  last  January;  after  that  he  came  seldom,  and  he  did  not  wear  hia 
accustomed  air  of  familiarity  ;  Mr.  Glendenning  was  arrested  on  the  15th 
of  July. 

Dr.  Booth. — Were  there  ever  any  suggestions  as  to  the  purity  of  Miss 
Pomeroy  ?  A.  Never  to  my  knowledge ;  Miss  Pomeroy  never  went  to 
Mr.  Glendenning’s  church  after  the  day  we  found  out  her  trouble. 

The  examination  of  Mr.  Miller  here  closed,  and  it  was  read  from  the 
stenographer’s  notes  to  the  Presbytery.  The  other  witnesses  were  dis¬ 
missed  for  the  day. 

The  Moderator  announced  that  the  commission  appointed  to  take  tes¬ 
timony  would  meet  immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Presbytery 
in  the  court  room.  He  also  announced  that  one  member  who  was  pre¬ 
viously  appointed  on  the  commission  was  set  aside  on  account  of  his  opin¬ 
ions  already  expressed  on  the  case.  The  Presbytery  then  adjourned  to 
this  afternoon. 

During  the  cross-examination  of  Mr.  Miller  he  was  examined  very 
minutely  as  to  the  exact  words  of  the  conversations  referred  to  in  his  tes¬ 
timony.  The  Moderator  at  one  time  said  to  him,  “How  is  it,  Mr.  Miller, 
that  your  memory  is  so  fresh  on  times,  places  and  conversations  when 
asked  by  the  prosecution,  but  the  opposite  when  asked  by  the  defence?” 
Mr.  Miller  rejoined  sparplv,  “I  state  what  I  know;  I  won’t  state  what  I 
dou’t  know.”  At  another  time  the  witness  replied  to  a  taunt  from  the 
defence,  “I  appreciate  my  position,  sir;  I  know  I  am  under  oath.” 

When  the  Moderator  was  appointing  the  commission  to  take  testimony 
for  the  defence  he  named  Mr.  French.  At  the  mention  of  this  name  Rev. 
Mr.  Yermilyea  arose  and  objected,  saying  that  Mr.  French  was  as  inti¬ 
mate  friend  of  Mr.  Glendenning  and  therefore  he  did  not  think  should  be 
placed  on  such  a  commission.  The  Moderator  rapped  heavily  and  said, 
“The  brother  is  out  of  order.  He  has  no  right  to  make  such  a  remark 
before  the  Presbytery  while  the  case  is  on  trial.”  Mr.  French  was  after¬ 
ward  set  aside. 

The  defence  labored  strenuously  to  impeach  the  character  of  Mr.  Jones, 
brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Miller,  and  it  seemed  at  one  time  as  if  Jones,  not 
Glendenning,  was  on  trial.  “Did  Mr.  Jones  live  with  you?”  “Had  he 
a  night  key?”  “Was  he  ever  alone  in  the  house  with  Miss  Pomeroy?” 
“Was  he  married?”  “What  was  his  occupation?”  “What  were  his 
habits?”  “Where  is  he  now?”  and  a  score  of  such  questions  were  put 
to  Mr.  Miller,  in  rapid  succession.  The  object  of  the  defence  in  this  was 
sufficiently  apparent 


38 


POOH  MARY  POMERO'y 


Mr.  Randall  was  the  first  wituess  next  day.  He  testified  that  he  went, 
in  company  with  Mr.  Northrop,  to  Ur.  Millerfi’s  house  on  the  night  of 
Mr.  Glendeuning’s  arrest;  Ur.  1  LUloY/ch  accompanied  Mr.  Glendenuing; 
Mr.  Northrup  told  Mr.  Glendenuing  he  was  sorry  to  see  him  in  such  a 
position  ;  Mr.  Glendenuing  laughed,  and  said  that  Mr.  Northrup  would 
find  it  serious  for  himself  before  he  got  through  with  it;  witness  then 
described  the  scene  previously  detailed  by  Mr.  Miller,  and  continued: — 
Mr.  Miller  said  he  would  not  permit  any  questions  to  be  asked  of  Miss 
Pomeroy;  Mr.  Hallowell  asked  Miss  Pomeroy  if  she  did  solemnly  swear 
that  Mr.  Glendenuing  was  the  father  of  her  child;  the  question  was 
repeated  three  or  four  times  without  an  answer.  Mr.  Miller  asked  Mr 
Glendenuing  if  he  would  marry  the  girl ;  he  answered  that  he  could  not., 
under  present  circumstances ;  Mr.  Miller  then  asked  him  what  business 
he  had  sneaking  into  his  house  at  all  hours  of  the  night;  Mr.  Glenden- 
ning  replied  that  he  would  explain  all  that  at  the  proper  time;  1  am  a 
member  of  the  congregation  of  this  church  ;  Miss  Pomeroy’s  character 
was  unexceptionable  ;  never  heard  a  word  against  her  in  my  life ;  she 
was  a  frequent  visitor  at  my  house. 

Justice  Aldridge  was  recalled.  The  Moderator  here  announced  that 
no  person,  male  or  female,  under  twenty-one  years  of  age  would  be  per¬ 
mitted  in  the  church  during  this  trial.  In  answer  to  counsel  for  the  pros¬ 
ecution  witness  said  : — It  was  my  own  idea  that  the  dying  statement  of 
Miss  Pomeroy  should  be  sworn  to,  for  she  expressed  no  desire  on  the 
subject;  Mr.  Gordon  asked  Mr.  Glendenning  on  the  night  of  the  arrest 
why  he  did  not  speak  of  this  matter  before;  Mr.  Glendenning  answered, 
“On  her  account.” 

On  cross-examination  the  witness  said  : — The  bastardy  suit  against  Mr. 
Glendenning  was  discontinued  because  the  bondsman  (Mr.  Gordon) 
asked  to  have  the  case  attended  to  or  that  he  be  released  from  .’  is  bond; 
the  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  Mr.  Dudley,  came  to  me  and  asked  that  the 
proceedings  be  discontinued  because  the  child  was  not  chargeable  to  the 
city,  inasmuch  as  no  application  for  maintenance  had  been  made;  th* 
Overseer  of  the  Poor  came  to  me  and  told  me  that  as  the  mother  had  died 
no  application  had  been  made  to  the  city  for  the  support  of  the  child;  he, 
therefore,  had  ao  further  ground  of  action  against  Mr.  Glendenuing; 
when  Miss  Pomeroy  was  making  her  dying  statement  she  was  as  calm 
and  composed  as  Mr.  Dodd  (counsel  for  defence)  would  be  if  he  were 
going  to  leave  this  world ;  it  seemed  as  if  the  candle  were  going  out; 
she  could  not  sign  her  name;  she  might  have  made  Iter  mark;  I  wanted 
to  have  her  mark  there  so  that  people  could  not  question  it;  there  wa» 
not  the  slightest  appearance  of  excitement. 

On  the  next  day  Justice  Aldridge  was  recalled.  Counsel  for  the  pros, 
ecutiou  questioned  him  in  regard  to  the  statement  mad<  by  Mr- 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


39 


Glendenniug  in  the  .Justice's  office  on  the  night  of  the  arrest.  Mr.  Glen 
denning  said  on  that  night,  “  Would  not  a  written  confession  clear  me  ?  ” 
The  Justice  answered  that  it  might,  possibly. 

Mrs.  Ethelinda  Miller  was  then  called.  She  went  over  the  old  story 
with  minuteness  of  detail  and  with  deep  solemnity  of  manner.  After 
sketching  the  introduction  of  Glendenning  to  the  deceased  the  witness 
proceeded  : — Her  strange  actions  excited  my  suspicious  ;  I  communicated 
my  suspicions  to  Mr.  Miller’s  auut  and  told  her  that  if  she  knew  anything 
was  wrong  she  should  tell  me;  it  then  Hashed  across  my  mind  that  they 
were  married,  but  that  he  did  not  want  his  mother  and  sister  to  know  of 
it;  on  the  13th  of  July,  in  the  morning,  I  came  down  the  stairs  suddenly 
upon  Mary,  and  1  had  only  to  look  at  her  to  see  what  was  the  matter;  1 
-turned  away  in  horror  and  Mary  asked  what  was  the  matter  or  w  hether 
I  was  sick :  I  said  I  was  sick  at  heart ;  I  had  prepared  to  go  to  Mew 
York  and  I  became  terribly  excited  ;  I  told  Mr.  Miller  after  I  returned 
from  New  York  and  told  him  that  before  I  stept  that  night  1  must  know 
the  facts  of  the  case;  I  talked  with  Mary  that  night  about  it;  she  denied 
the  charge  most  strenuously  and  turned  very  pale  ;  I  asked  her  whether 
she  was  married  and  after  a  great  deal  of  hesitation  she  gasped  out  “yes;'7 
I  then  told  her  to  go  and  get  her  certificate  at  once;  she  faltered  and  fell 
across  my  knees  ;  “  Oh,  my  God  ! 77  I  said,  “you  are  not  married.77  (Here 
Mrs.  Miller  was  overcome  with  emotion.)  Mr.  Miller  happened  to  come 
in  just  then;  I  said  to  Mary,  “Go  for  Mr.  Glendenning  at  once;77  she 
looked  up  and  said  it  was  too  late ;  1  told  her  that  he  was  there  in  that 
house  much  later  than  that;  I  then  asked  her  was  Mr.  Glendenning  the 
father  of  that  child,  and  she  said  that  he  was  ;  I  took  her  to  her  room  and 
talked  with  her,  telling  her  that  she  brought  this  trouble  upon  herself, 
but  that,  after  all,  I  had  only  myself  to  blame  for  going  to  bed  and  allow- 
ing  any  one  to  remain  in  the  house,  but  that  I  had  all  the  confidence  in 
the  world  in  her  and  in  him,  and  that  I  thought  I  could  trust  a  minister 
)f  the  gospel;  on  the  night  of  Mr.  Glendenning’s  arrest,  when  he  came  in, 

.  said  I  was  glad  he  came,  that  I  wanted  to  see  him  od  business;  he 
■aid,  “Pray,  what  might  that  business  be?77  I  told  him  I  wanted  him  to 
te  married,  and  he  asked  to  whom;  I  told  him  “To  Mary,  that  yon 
uined;”  he  answered,  “  No,  indeed,  mum,”  raising  his  hand  and  shaking 
is  head  in  an  indifferent  way ;  I  believe  I  fainted  that  night,  for  the  next 
king  I  recollect  I  was  up  stairs. 

;  Mrs.  Miller  then  related  the  pistol  scene  as  previously  described — When 
Ir.  Glendenning  said  that  if  he  was  found  out  he  would  be  a  ruined  man, 

1  id  she  said  to  him  in  astonishment,  “And  what  would  it  do  to  me?” 

2  told  her  to  trust  to  him,  that  lie  would  stand  by  her  to  the  very  end 
id  see  her  all  right,  but  that  she  must  clear  him  ;  she  then  wrote  as  he 
:ctated,  and  she  told  me  that  everything  seemed  black  before  her  eyes. 

|  Here  Glendenning  laughed  outright,  and  Mrs.  Miller  resented  it  quickly, 


40 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


saviug,  with  a  voice  of  indignation,  “Sir,  I  don’t  see  anything  in  this  ttt 
laugh  at.” 

I)r.  Imbrie. — I  hope  the  Moderator  will  preserve  order. 

The  Moderator  (rapping). — Order  must  be  preserved.  (A  murmur  of 
disapprobation  at  the  unseemly  interruption  ran  through  the  church.) 

Mrs.  Miller  continued.— The  substance  of  the  document  signed  by  Mary 
while  Glendenning  held  the  pistol  over  her  head  was  that  he  could  in> 
plicate  half  a  dozen  members  of  his  church. 

Dr.  Imbrie. — Were  any  names  mentioned? 

A.  There  were  no  names  iu  it;  if  there  were  he  put  them  there  after 
she  wrote  it ;  she  could  not  tell  any  more  in  relation  to  the  contents  ol 
that  document;  Mary  gave  me  the  date  of  her  seduction  by  Mr.  Glen- 
denniug  as  the  4th  of  July,  1373,  while  we  were  away  in  the  country;  it 
occurred  in  the  back  parlor.  Mrs.  Miller  then  rehearsed  the  story  of  her 
visit  to  the  Institution  for  infants,  iu  Clinton  place,  New  York;  the  visit 
was  suggested  by  Miss  Pomeroy  ;  Dr.  Hnbbard,  after  inquiring  about  the 
case,  described  Mr.  Glendenning  accurately,  as  the  man  who  had  visited 
the  institution  six  weeks’  previously,  to  have  a  young  girl  admitted  till 
her  child  should  be  born;  the  matron  of  the  institution  also  described 
him  and  when  I  showed  her  Gleudenning’s  picture  she  identified  it  at 
once,  saying,  “  That  is  the  man ;  ”  the  physicau  told  her  she  ought  to  be 
careful  as  she  might  have  to  swear  to  it ;  the  matron  replied  that  she 
could  swear  to  it;  Mr.  Pomeroy  aud  Mrs.  Metz  came  with  me  ;  the  con- 
versation  took  place  in  presence  of  Mrs.  Metz ;  in  a  conversation  with 
Mary,  when  I  saw  there  was  a  burden  on  her  mind  I  asked  her  what  the 
burden  was;  she  said  that  be  (meaning  Glendenning)  was  constantly 
accusing  her  of  being  intimate  with  other  men.  (Here  the  witness  men 
tioned  the  names  of  eight  gentlemen,  some  of  them  being  members  o, 
Gleudenning's  church.)  He  told  her  that  he  and  Mr.  Dean  had  watcher 
her  and  that  they  saw  her  walk  home  on  one  occasion  with  one  ot  thi 
gentlemeu  referred  to,  and  he  said  that  he  supposed  they  had  a  good  tim< 
when  they  went  into  the  house  ;  he  said  he  could  prove  she  was  intimat> 
with  these  men  ;  iu  explanation  of  that  she  said  that  Mr.  once  hel 
his  umbrella  over  her  head -coming  from  church,  but  he  did  not  go  int 
the  house ;  I  became  indignant,  and  asked  her  was  it  possible  she  too 
all  that  from  him,  and  she  gave  me  this  reply,  “It  was  a  rod  of  iron  b 
held  over  my  head ;  I  was  in  a  condition  that  prevented  my  say  iug 
word;  I  wras  wholly  in  his  power.”  (Sensation.)  I  tried  to  cheer  be 
up,  but  it  seemed  as  if  there  was  a  heavier  burden  still  resting  on  her; 
told  her  to  tell  me  whatever  was  on  her  mind,  as  she  had  my  forgivenes 
and  she  drew  up  her  hands  and  said,  “How  can  1  leave  this  good  bom 
the  best  home  I  ever  had  in  my  life?”  I  told  her  to  cheer  up,  that  6l 
should  continue  to  live  with  us  and  face  the  trouble  ;  she  replied,  No, 
will  die  if  I  leave  here  and  I  will  die  if  I  stay.”  (Sensation.)  At  |b 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


41 


time  she  was  lying  in  bed  in  a  very  weak  condition  ;  in  the  conversation 
about  the  father  of  the  child  she  said,  “I  hear  that  Glendenning  is  walk¬ 
ing  and  laughing  through  the  streets ;  I  wonder  if  he  would  laugh  if  he 
came  in  here  to-night  and  looked  at  rue  on  this  bed  from  which  I  begin 
to  feel  I  will  never  rise  and  saw  the  misery  that  he  has  brought  upon 
me,  and  not  only  upon  me,  but  on  you  who  did  not  deserve  it.;  I  hear 
too,  that  he  is  boasting  about  the  child  coming  nearer  home,  but  as  God 
is  my  judge,  John  S.  Glendenning  and  no  one  else  is  the  father  of  that 
child.” 

In  describing  the  deathbed  scene  the  witness  gave  the  following  new 
points : — We  wished  to  have  some  clergyman  come  to  pray  with  her,  but 
none  could  be  found ;  Mr.  Dunne  and  Mr.  Gordon,  both  elders  of  this 
church,  came  and  prayed  with  her;  she  said  to  them,  “Mr  Dunne  and 
Mr.  Gordon  you  are  both  good  men  ;  you  have  heard  his  story,  but  you 
have  not  heard  mine;  in  an  unguarded  moment  I  fell  and  John  S.  Glen- 
denning  fell  with  me ;  and  I  want  to  proclaim  to  you,  before  God  as  my 
witness,  that  Mr.  Glendenning  is  the  father  of  my  child  ;  they  say  he  has 
got  papers,  but  that  does  not  clear  him  ;  ”  this  was  said  to  Mr.  Dunne ; 
I  was  in  the  room;  Mr.  Dunne  then  asked  to  be  left  alone  with  her  for  a 
momeuts. 

The  remainder  of  Mrs.  Miller’s  testimony  was  a  corroboration  of  that 
already  published.  Regarding  Mr.  Glendenning’s  more  recent  visits  to 
Miss  Pomeroy  the  witness  said: — During  a  part  of  the  year  he  would 
come  in  stealthily  and  would  be  in  the  house  without  our  knowing  it;  at 
last  I  heard  it  from  the  neighbors,  and  not  liking  the  rumors  that  were 
going  around  among  the  neighbors  I  spoke  to  Mary  about  it  and  told  her 
it  seemed  very  singular  and  that  I  did  not  like  it. 

The  cross-examination  of  Mrs.  Miller  by  Mr.  Dodd  was  resumed: — 
Mary  told  me  that  when  Mr.  Glendenning  made  her  swear  on  the  Bible 
never  to  reveal  what  had  happened  she  meant  to  keep  that  oath  ;  she  ex¬ 
plained  to  me  how  be  used  the  pistol;  she  said  it  was  a  short  pistol  and 
that  he  carried  it  in  a  case;  when  he  pointed  it  at  her  she  said,  “You 
wouldn’t  shoot  me  1  why  you’d  be  bung  for  murder;”  he  answered,  “No 
I  wouldn’t  i’d  kill  myself  first;”  Mary  told  me  she  thought  he  would 
shoot  her;  when  I  asked  her  about  her  pregnancy  I  didn’t  threaten  her; 
it  took  an  hour  to  elieit  the  confession  ;  I  told  her  I  would  rather  lose  my 
right  hand  than  have  her  accuse  Mr.  Glendenning  wrongfully,  and  I  begt 
ged  of  her  to  tell  me  the  whole  truth  ;  it  was  suggested  to  me  to  get 
Miss  Pomeroy  married  without  publicity ;  the  arrest  was  distasteful  to 
me,  and  it  was  only  proposed  to  arrest  him  if  he  refuse  to  marry  Miss 
Pomeroy  ;  Mary  asked  to  have  the  child  put  out  to  nurse  ;  she  did  not 
take  much  notice  of  it  at  first;  the  matron  in  the  Clinton  place  infant 
Asylum  positively  identified  Mr.  Glendenning,  and  when  she  did  so  she 
astonished  n:o ;  Dr.  Hubbard  seemed  to  be  annoyed  at  the  nurse’s 


42 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


identification  of  Mr.  Glendenning,  and  he  told  her  that  she  must  be  care* 
ful,  as  she  might  have  to  swear  to  it;  she  answered  sharply,  "80  I  will 
swear  to  it;”  the  Doctor's  words  in  reference  to  the  visit  of  Mr.  Glen- 
denning  were,  “  It  strikes  me  that  a  gentleman  answering  that  description 
was  here  about  six  weeks  ago  in  reference  to  the  admission  of  a  young 
girl  who,  he  said,  was  in  trouble;”  tbe  child  was  named  in  baptism 
‘‘Ella  Stuart  Glendenning;”  it  was  ro  named  at  Mary’s  request;  she 
said  to  me,  “M'hose  name  should  I  give  it  but  it’s  father's?”  she  lived 
about  three  weeks  and  a  half  after  the  birth  of  the  child  ;  when  I  first 
chided  Mary  about  the  frequency  of  Mr.  Gleudenning’s  visits  and  his  late 
hours  she  made  all  sorts  of  excuses  ;  she  said  that  the  rain  prevented  him 
from  going  home  before  late  hours  many  times;  I  told  her  to  tell  him  it 
was  not  right  and  that  he  would  think  none  the  less  of  her  for  it;  I  said 
that  if  she  did  not  tell  him  I  wou'd;  when  I  heard  that  Glendenning  re¬ 
ported  he  had  a  package  of  letters  that  would  clear  him,  I  asked  Mary  A 
she  had  written  any  letters  to  him,  and  she  said  she  only  wrote  seven,  ox 
eight  in  answer  to  notes  sent  by  him;  she  destroyed  all  the  letters  he 
sent  her,  as  she  said  he  directed  her  to  do  so  and  that  he  would  destroy 
hers;  she  never  at  any”  time  hesitated  to  tell  who  was  the  father  of  her 
child,  but  she  hesitated  to  tell  the  time  of  the  reduction;  when  I  asked 
her  about  the  document  Mr.  Glendenning  compelled  her  to  sign  she  said, 
“If  I  were  to  be  killed  for  it  I  could  not  tell  word  for  word  wThat  was  in 
that  paper;”  I  asked  her  if  she  did  not  understand  that  his  object  was  to 
use  it  against  her;  she  said  that  she  supposed  he  wanted  it  because  he 
was  afraid  of  getting  into  trouble  on  account  of  her  talking  so  much  about 
him  ;  she  made  her  first  confession  to  me  of  her  trouble  on  Monday  night, 
13th  of  July  last.  . 

To  Rev.  Mr.  Edwards. — Mr.  Glendenning'a  mother  and  sister  did  not 
favor  his  attentions  to  Miss  Pomeroy,  but  I  never  understood  the  reason 
why. 

To  the  Moderator. — Their  engagement  was  uanounced  among  oui 
friends ;  we  all  talked  about  it,  but  we  did  not  give  it  any  further  publicity; 
because  I  did  not  like  any  gossip,  for  if  the  old  women  of  this  church 
got  talking  of  anybody  they  would  pick  his  or  her  character  to  pieces,  no 
matter  how  good  the  person  might  be — (laughter) — I  asked  Mary  aboi* 
the  engagement,  and  she  said  there  was  no  day  fixod  for  tbe  marriage. 

This  was  the  conclusion  of  Mrs.  Milllex’s  examination. 

Mrs.  Julia  M.  Metz  examined. — I  was  a  member  of  this  congregation 
and  had  charge  of  the  Sabbath  school,  but  I  gave  it  up;  knew  of  Mr 
Glendenning’s  visits  to  Miss  Pomeroy;  I  live  near  Mr.  Miller's;  I  saw  i 
him  at  Mr.  Miller's  a  number  of  times;  I  understood  be  went  there  to  j 
visit  Miss  Pomeroy ;  his  hours  of  visiting  were  in  the  evening ;  was  so  l| 
situated  'hat  I  had  a  good  opportunity  to  know  of  the  frequency  of  his  1 
visits;  saw  Miss  Pomeroy  wear  a  ring  which  I  was  told  was  given  be*  I 


POOH  MARY  POMEROY. 


43 


bv  Mr.  Glendenning;  knsw  Miss  Pomeroy  well,  but  not  very  iutimately; 
never  heard  anything  against  her  character;  never  knew  an  improper  act 
on  her  part;  I  noticed  that  when  she  was  at  parties  she  was  more  reserved 
than  usual;  never  knew  anything  against  her  character  for  truthfulness 
untill  her  prevarication  in  this  case  with  Mr.  Glendenning  ;  saw  her  eve¬ 
ry  day  from  the  time  of  Mr.  Gleudenning’s  arrest  till  she  was  taken  sick; 
I  had  conversations  with  her  in  which  I  urged  the  importance  of  her  tel¬ 
ling  the  truth,  otherwise  her  friends  could  not  help  her;  her  reluctance  to 
tell  the  truth  I  attributed  to  her  strong  affection  for  Mr.  Glendenning; 
she  told  me  without  hesitation  and  without  being  urged  that  Mr.  Glenden¬ 
ning  was  the  author  of  her  trouble;  I  asked  her  how  long  this  thing  had 
been  going  on,  and  she  said,  “Since  last  Thanksgiving;-’  she  told  me  that 
if  Mrs.  Miller,  and  myself  would  go  into  the  other  room  she  would  tell 
us  all  about  it;  she  theu  told  us,  after  a  great  effort,  that  the  last  Fourth 
of  July  (1873)  was  the  date;  when  we  spoke  to  her  further  she  gave  as 
an  excuse,  “I  loved  him  so;”  she  said  that  Mr.  Glendenning  brought 
a  paper  to  her  one  evening  and  asked  her  to  sign  it;  she  said  she  could 
not,  as  everything  turned  black  before  her  eyes:  she  told  him  to  read  it 
himself,  and  he  did  so,  after  which  he  asked  her  to  sign  it;  she  said  she 
could  not  sign  that;  he  then  took  a  pistol  out  of  his  pocket  and  compell¬ 
ed  her  to  sign  it;  she  said,  “You  don’t  know  what  I  have  suffered  from 
that  man  for  the  past  few  months:”  she  distinctly  mentioned  John  S. 
Glendenning  as  the  father  of  her  child;  she  mentioned  no  one  else;  I 
went  with  Mrs.  Miller  to  the  asylum  in  Clinton  place  to  have  the  child 
utken  there  to  be  nursed;  Dr.  Hubbard  did  not  identif)r  the  pictura  of 
Mr.  Glendenning  ,  but  the  matron  did  at  once;  she  said  ,  “That  is  the 
.nan;”  the  doctor  cautioned  her  to  be  careful,  and  she  said  she  could 
swear  to  it,  I  went  a  second  time  to  the  asylum,  because  my  veracity 
lad  been  questioned  in  relation  to  my  first  visit,  and  I  wanted  the  matron 
o  make  an  affidavit  or  sign  a  paper  stating  that  our  statements  in  regard 
,o  our  first  visit  were  correct,  as  a  great  deal  had  been  said  about  it;  she 
ieclined,  as  she  said  the  doctors  advised  her  to  say  nothing  further  about 
he  matter  a  id  a  great  deal  had  been  published  about  it  in  the  papers; 
everal  persons  had  called  in  relation  to  it  but  she  declined  to  see  them 
,t  all;  a  party  of  gentlemen — Mr.  Glendenning  being  one  of  the  number 
—had  called  also,  and  she  said  that  she  recognized  him  at  once ,  they 
esired  to  see  her,  but  she  declined,  saying  she  did  not  wish  to  do  auv- 
bing  contrary  to  the  orders  of  the  doctors;  I  remarked  to  her  that  that 
Vas  very  singular,  as  if  she  had  come  down  to  see  those  gentlmen  she 
ould  teli  that  Mr  Glendenning  was  the  man  and  that  would  have  sett- 
id  the  question;  I  reminded  her  that  she  had  previously  identified  the 
icture  and  she  answered,  ”Yes,  I  did,  I  will  not  take  back  anything  I 
ave  said, but  the  officers  of  the  institution  have  positively  forbidden  me 
>  say  anything  about  it.” 


44 


POOR  MART  POMEROT. 


The  cross-examination  of  Mrs.  Metz  was  commenced  next  day.  The 
first  question  was  why  she  gave  up  the  iufant  class  in  the  church,  anci 
she  replied: — “I  felt  I  could  not  consistently  come  to  the  church  lest  ] 
should  meet  Mr.  Glendenning;  I  felt  that  if  the  elders  of  the  church  al¬ 
lowed  him  to  remain  here  after  this  terrible  affair  I  would  abandon  the 
church;  Miss  Pomeroy  said  that  Mr.  Glendeuning  accused  her  of  being 
intimate  with  several  gentlemen  (here  witness  mentioned  the  names  o 
six  members  of  Gleudenuing’s  church) ;  she  said  that  he  constantly  threat 
ened  he  would  expose  her  if  she  should  betray  him;  I  knew  Mr.  Glen 
denning  as  a  preacher,  and  formed  a  very  favorable  opinion  of  him ;  ] 
thought  if  a  gentleman  visited  a  lady  he  ought  to  do  it  openly  and  in  i 
gentlemanly  manner  and  not  stealthily.  Rev.  Dr.  Eddy — Was  Mis: 
Pomeroy,  in  your  opinion,  a  fit  companion  for  a  minister?  A.  She  was  « 
fit  companion  for  any  person;  if  there  was  any  superiority  on  his  side  i 
was  intellectually,  not  morally. 

To  Rev.  Mr.  Edwards. — In  my  judgment  the  attentions  paid  by  Mr 
Glendenning  to  Miss  Pomeroy  could  not  with  propriety  take  place  with 
out  an  actual  engagement;  don't  know  what  is  the  general  impressioi 
with  regard  to  the  propriety  of  such  a  course  in  this  community,  but  tha 
is  my  own  judgment. 

To  Rev.  Mr.  Booth — Never  heard  Miss  Pomeroy  deny  the  pistol  scene 

The  witness,  in  answer  to  further  questions,  stated: — 

“The  character  of  the  intimacy  which  Mr.  Glendenning  alleged  to  ej 
ist  between  Miss  Pomeroy  and  the  gentleman  named,  I  understood  to  b 
criminal;  Mr.  Glendenning  did  not  go  home  with  her  from  the  meetings 
but  went  there  afterwards;  I  thought  it  was  very  unmanly  on  his  pai 
not  to  go  home  with  her,  but  no  follow  her  soon  afterwards.  ” 

To  Dr.  Imbrie — My  understanding  of  her.  statement  that  Mr.  Glider 
ning  was  constantly  accusing  her  ol  criminal  intimacy  with  other  me 
was  that  be  charged  her  thus  in  order  to  induce  her  to  submit  to  his  det 
ires. 

When  the  witness  was  examined  minutely  as  to  the  causes  that  led  he 
to  lose  her  respect  for  Mr.  Glendenning,  she  said  that  it  was  ve*y  strang 
that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  never  spoke  of  him  as  a  v.sitor;  when  the 
would  call  at  the  house  of  witness  they  would  refer  to  him  simply  by  saj 
ing  “Mr.  Gleudenuing  is  there,  ”  meaning  at  Mr.  Miller’s  house.  Tb 
witness  further  stated  that  she  thought  Mr.  Glendenning  could  not  affor 
to  sacrifice  himself  by  visiting  Miss  Pomero}7,  in  such  an  unmanly  war 
and  that  she  was  surprised  when  she  heard  of  the  engagement,  becaus 
Miss  Pomeroy  was  not  interlectually  the  equal  of  Mr.  Glendenning,  bi 
morally  she  was  the  equal  of  any  person. 

Mr.  Willard  E.  Dudley  examined — I  had  known  Miss  Pomeroy  i^vet 
teen  years  last  spring;  knew  her  first  when  she  was  living  with  ,>~eo 
filler  on  Hoboken  avenue  in  this  city;  knew  her  intimately,  ane>  cs 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


45 


•osftively  testify  that  I  always  knew  her  to  be  a  truthful,  virtuous  girl, 
nd  of  a  very  quiet  disposition;  she  was  very  far  from  being  what  is 
nown  as  a  gay  young  lady;  was  present  when  she  made  her  dying 
tatement  to  Justice  Aldridge  ;  there  were  six  or  seven  persons  present  ; 
be  called  me  by  name  and  called  Mr.  Aldridge  by  name  (witness  here 
;peated  the  words  of  the  dying  statement  already  published,  laying 
;ress  on  the  sentence,  “I  was  afraid  of  him  once,  but  I  am  not  now”) ; 
ae  was  perfectly  conscious  and  understood  the  words  she  spoke  as  clearly 
5  I  do  now;  did  not  discover  any  indication  that  her  mind  was  wan- 
aring;  did  not  think  when  she  made  the  statement  that  she  would  die 
)  soon  ;  nobody  asked  her  any  questions  during  the  making  of  the  state- 
ent;  she  seemed  very  anxious  to  make  it  and  tell  somebody;  she  seem,- 
1  to  be  relieved  when  she  l*ade  made  it. 

Cross-examined.— I  went  for  Justice  Aldridge  at  Miss  Pomeroy’s  re- 
test. 


Mr.  James  Dunne  examined.— I  am  an  elder  in  this  congregation ;  the 
her  elder  is  George  P.  Howell ;  heard  rumors  that  Mr.  Glendenning 
is  engaged  to  be  married  to  Miss  Pomeroy;  I  had  a  conversation  with 
r.  Glen  denning  on  the  subject  and  he  denied  that  he  was  engaged  ;  the 
Dversation  took  place  last  winter ;  he  left  the  impression  on  mv  mind 
it  there  was  no  probability  of  an  engagement ;  there  was  a  \  erv  un- 
nfortable  feeling  among  the  elders  and  members  of  the  congregation 
consequence  of  his  intimacy  with  Miss  Pomeroy  ;  the  impression  that 
vailed  was  that  Mr.  Glendenning  visited  her  much  oftener  than  the 
,s  warranted;  I  was  sent  for  to  see  Miss  Pomeroy;  Mr.  John  Gordon 
ne  with  me;  Dr.  Burdett  was  there;  he  said  she  was  su fieri n<r  from 


vous  excitement  and  that  she  was  wandering  in  her  mind- 


she  said 


was  glad  to  see  us,  and  she  recognized  us  distinctly;  she  told  us  that 
desired  to  say  to  us  that  Mr.  Glendenning  and  no  one  else  was  the 
er  of  her  child;  she  said,  “He  may  have  some  papers — I  don’t  know 
t  they  are  but  that  don’t  clear  him;  I  couldn’t  help  it;”  I  asked 
how  long  this  had  been  going  on,  and  she  said  about  a  year;  1  then 
ed  with  her;  I  asked  her  what  she  wished  to  pray  for,  and  she  said 
God  would  forgive  her  sins  and  take  her  to  Heaven;  before  reading 
chapter  she  said,  “In  an  unguarded  moment  I  fell  and  he  fell  with 
”  when  she  prayed  that  God  might  forgive  her  she  added,  “And  him 


nnmg 


”  1  had  no  doubt  whatever  that  “she”  referred  to  Mr.  Glende . 

was  used  in  that  connection;  there  were  several  ladies  present  up 
nis  time,  and  I  asked  them  if  they  would  not  leave  us  (Mr.  Gordon 
myself)  alone  with  Miss  Pomeroy,  and  they  retired  ;  I  then  said  to 
That  it  was  necessary  before  she  would  be  forgiven  that  she  should 
t,  and  it  was  necessary  to  her  repentance  that  she  should  tell  the 
;  I  then  repeated  the  question  whether  John  S.  Glendenning  was 
-ther  of  her  child,  and  she  said  “ves;”  f  the,,  asked  her  if  she  ever 


46 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


had  criminal  intimacy  with  any  other  persons,  and  she  said  “rwver  ,”  I 
asked  her  if  she  ever  made  any  statements  contrary  to  these,  and  she 
said  she  never  did;  I  left  and  called  again  in  the  evening, 'in  compauy 
with  Mr.  C.  C.  Jewell,  one  of  the  trustees  of  this  church ;  this  was  ou 
the  Sundav  before  she  died  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Tunison  had  been  there  betwees 
my  two  visits ;  Mr.  Jewell  prayed  with  her ;  Miss  Pomeroy  had  beeu  i 
communicant  in  this  church  about  two  years  and  a  half;  never  knew 
anything  against  her  character,  nor  did  I  ever  hear  auything  against  her 
never  had  any  misgivings  as  to  the  propriety  of  her  occupying  that  po 
sitiou  in  the  church  ;  spoke  to  Mr.  Glendenning  about  Miss  Pomeroy’ 
assertion  to  me  that  he  was  the  father  of  her  child  ;  he  denied  it  by  ito 
plication,  but  I  do  not  think  he  did  in  terms. 

q  Did  you  ever  have  a  suspicion  that  any  other  than  Mr.  Gleudet 
ning  was  the  father  of  that  child?  A.  (after  great  hesitation)  1  did. 

q  Did  you  ever  have  any  conversation  on  the  subjeet  with  the  perso 
you  suspected  ?  A.  (A  long  pause.)  I  caunot  answer  that  question.  3 

The  Moderator  here  ruled  that  the  witness  was  not  required  to  imp! 
cate  a  third  person,  and  the  question  as  put  by  Dr.  Riggs  was  qui 
proper. 

Witness. — I  bad  no  particular  person  in  my  mind;  I  believed  M 
Glendenning  was  innocent,  and  of  course  some  one  must  be  the  fath 
of  the  child. 

To  Rev.  Mr.  Edwards. — Miss  Pomeroy  was  admitted  to  the  cpi 
muniou  of  this  church  on  examination;  she  gave  reasonable  evidence 
piety  and  maintained  a  Christian  deportment  as  far  as  I  had  ou  opp- 
tunitv  of  judging;  we  received  her  without  misgivings. 

Counsel  for  defence  announced  that  Mr.  Dunne  would  be  required 
attend  again  in  the  case. 

Mrs.  Sarah  R.  Graves  testified  that  she  knew  Miss  Pomeroy  intimab 
for  three  years  and  a  half;  witness  lived  next  door  to  Mrs.  Miller,  a 
Miss  Pomeroy  visited  her  house  three  and  four  times  a  day;  she  wa 
companion  to  her  daughter;  she  bore  au  excellent  character;  saw 
and  Mr.  Glendenning  walking  arm  in  arm  frequently  in  the  evening; 
visited  her  often  ;  I  have  seen  him  there  three  and  four  times  a  week 
only  saw  him  go  in  the  afternoon  three  or  four  times;  his  regular  be 
of  visiting  were  from  seven  to  nine  and  after  nine  at  night;  saw  1 
come  out  as  late  as  one  o'clock  at  night;  Miss  Pomeroy  told  me  she  ’ 
engaged  to  be  married  and  showed  me  her  engagement  ring;  it  wat 
her  finger ;  I  asked  her  when  it  was  to  come  off  and  she  said  that  there 
no  day  fixed  ;  she  told  me  that  Mr.  Glendenning  gave  it  to  her;  she 
showed  me  the  other  presents  which  she  said  he  gave  her;  I  told  hetB 
I  would  my  own  daughter,  several  times  that  she  ought  not  to  recB 
those  presents. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Graves,  on  cross-examination,  testified: — When  I  M 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


4 9 


Miss  Pomeroy  why  she  allowed  Mr.  Glendenning  to  be  so  intimate  with 
her,  she  answered,  “I  loved  him  so;  he  was  a  minister,  aud  I  thought  lie 
would  not  desert  me  ;  oh,  God,  how  could  he  desert  me  so !  I  have  sig¬ 
ned  fallen  and  suffered,  and  now  he  has  deserted  me;”  she  said  this 
distinctly;  Mr.  Glendeoning,  in  my  judgment,  sought  after  Miss  Pom¬ 
eroy  rather  than  she  after  him,  and  I  can  prove  this;  on  the  Fourth  of 
July  last  I  went  with  Miss  Pomeroy  and  others  to  see  the  fireworks  in 
Bergen  square;  on  the  way  home  Mr.  Glendenning  met  us,  saving  that 
be  had  been  uptown  on  an  errand  and  that  accounted  for  his  being  out 
bo  late  ;  I  told  him  we  were  going  home  and  he  said  that  if  we  had  no 
©bjection  he  would  accompany  us;  he  walked  with  Miss  Pomeroy,  aud 
when  they  got  as  far  as  my  gate  I  asked  them  in,  but  he  declined,  sa  ving 
h®  was  going  to  spend  that  night  with  Mary;  I  saw  them  parting-  and 
ke  kissed  her;  saw  him  leave  her  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning;  he 
walked  on  the  grass  past  my  house. 

Mrs.  Graves  then  recited  Miss  Pomeroy’s  account  of  the  pistol  scene, 
which  was  a  corroboration  of  the  testimony  already  given,  and  continued  : 
When  Miss  Pomeroy  spoke  about  the  name  she  would  give  the  baby  I 
suggested  the  name  “Ella;”  the  child  was  named  “Ella  Stuart  Glen¬ 
denning  ;  ”  Maty  said  the  last  name  was  after  the  father  ;  when  she  showed 
ate  her  engagement  ring  she  told  me  not  to  say  anything  about  it  ;  never 
Saw  any  other  gentleman  visit  her  during  the  time  Mr.  Glendenning  was 
paying  attention  to  her;  she  explained  to  me  the  meaning  of  her  sta:e- 
ment,  “  Gleu.,  I  have  deceived  you,  it  is  yours,”  on  the  night  Giemlen- 
tting  was  arrested  ;  she  meant  that  she  had  told  the  secret  after  her  solum 
promise  to  keep  it;  she  was  so  scared  she  hardly  knew  what  she  was  say¬ 
ing:  Mr.  Glendenning  gave  her  many  presents’  such  as  cuffs,  collars,  &e., 
and  had  a  paper  regularly  sent  her,  for  which  he  subscribed;  I  fell  very 
•oeasy  one  night  because  Mr.  Glendenning  remained  so  long  with  Mary; 
I  got  up,  looked  out  of  the  window  and  saw  a  light  in  Mr.  Miller’s  par- 
tor;  saw  her  pull  down  the  shade  and  the  lights  were  immediately  put 
trot;  the  place  remained  dark  about  twenty  minutes ;  never  knew  Mary 
[to  keep  company  with  other  gentlemen  :  she  told  me  that  when  Mr.  Glen- 
ienning  was  giving  her  the  presents  he  said  that  she  might  as  well  hav« 
lie  presents  then,  as  she  would  get  them  some  time. 

The  witness  then  related  the  circumstances  attending  the  deathbed 
cene,  which  was  a  confirmation  of  the  testimony  already  given,  auda  dd» 
d,  “After  Justice  Aldridge  went  out  Mary  looked  at  Mrs.  Miller  and 
L aid,  ‘take  care  of  my  child;’  ”  she  seemed  anxious  for  Judge  Aldridge’s 
|  eturn,;  I  saw  the  light  turned  down  a  great  many  times  in  Miss  Pome- 
» joy’s  parlor  while  Mr.  Glendenning  was  there;  spoket  to  my  daughter 
bout  it,  but  never  mentioned  it  to  Mary. 

1  Mrs.  Caroline  D.  Wilson  testified. — I  knew  Miss  Pomeroy  afu-i  she 

4 


60 


POOR  MART  POMEROT. 


was  pregnant;  knew  her  parents  well  when  they  lived  in  Ovid;  Mary 
went  to  live  with  Mr.  Miller’s  family  because  she  could  not  agree  with 
her  stepmother;  her  mother  died  in  childbirth;  I  can  speak  poitively  a- 
bout  her  daughter;  she  was  always  considered  an  honest,  upright  girl, 
List  and  truthful  in  everything;  when  I  first  discovered  Mary’s  trouble  I 
was  sent  for  to  come  to  Mr- Miller’s  house;  I  found  Mary  crying;  she 
said  to  me,  “Oh.thisis  dreadful,  dreadful;  nobody  knows  how  bad  I  feel!” 
I  asked  her  who  was  the  cause  of  her  trouble,  and  she  answered  that  it 
was  John  S.  Gleudenniug;  she  said  that  she  had  asked  him  what  she 
vhould  do  with  the  baby,  and  he  said,  “Oh  we  can  put  it  in  a  basket  and 
leave  it  on  somebody’s  door  stoop,  Mary  yielded  to  his  wishes  because 
he  said,  “Why,  Mary,  it’s  allright;  you  are  my  little  wife;”  she  express¬ 
ed  deep  sorrow  when  she  spoke  to  me  and  was  deeply  grieved  because  she 
brought  Mr.  Miller’s  family  into  so  much  trouble,  I  spoke  to  her  after 
her  confinement  and  she  said  she  did  not  believe  she  would  live  long  ,  she 
told  me  that  the  paper  she  gave  to  Mr.  Glendenuiug  was  intended  t@ 
•'xonerate  him  ;  I  told  her  that  I  would  not  give  a  paper  to  any  man  liv¬ 
ing  if  he  wronged  me;  she  answered,  “Mrs.  Wilson,  you  don’t  know 
what  you  would  do  if  you  had  a  pistol  presented  to  your  head  ;”  I  be 
Sieve  she  told  the  truth,  she  said  to  me,  “I  don’t  know  anything  about 
unv  other  man  living  than  John  S.  Glendenuiug,”  she  said  this  very  em¬ 
phatically  and  in  a  loud  tone. 

When  Mr.  Dodd  commenced  the  cross-examination  she  declined  posi¬ 
tively  to  state  her  occupation.  She  said  she  was  not  ashamed  of  her 
business,  saying,  “I  keep  a  genteel  boarding  house.” 

Mrs.  Agnes  Miller  testified  that  she  bad  known  Miss  Pomeroy  for  six¬ 
teen  years,  and  never  knew  anything  improper  in  her  conduct;  she  wan 
a  very  amiable  girl;  she  told  witness  she  was  engaged  to  Mr.  Glenden- 
!ng;  used  to  see  Mr.  Gleudenniug  and  Mary  come  out  of  the  church 
together  long  after  the  congregation  was  dismissed 

Q.  Did  31  ary  ever  tell  you  who  was  the  father  of  the  child?  A.  Why 
I  never  doubted  that  Glendenning  was  the  father  of  the  child.  (Laughter.) 

Witness  further  stated  that  on  one  occasion  Glendenning  and  Mary 
remained  together  so  long  in  the  church  after  Sabbath  school  that  Mr. 
Miller  got  mad,  and  he  was  going  to  go  over  to  the  church  and  kick  them 
out.  (Laughter.) 

Dr.  John  I>.  Burdett  examined. — T  did  not  know  Miss  Pomeroy;  I  at¬ 
tended  her  during  her  last  illness;  I  went  there  on  the  solicitation  of  tw# 
of  the  neighbors,  more  particularly  that  of  Mr.  Metz;  I  expected  that 
she  would  recover;  she  got  up  too  soon  and  she  got  cold,  but  that  was 
not  the  cause  of  her  dangerous  illness;  anxiety  of  mind  hastened  it;  sh< 
died  of  congestion  of  the  lungs;  she  was  perfectly  rational;  both  lungs 
were  involved  in  the  congestion;  did  not  tell  Mr.  Dunne  that  her  mine 
vras  wandering. 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


51 


Rev.  Mr.  Tuuison  examined. — I  am  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Epis¬ 
copal  Church;  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Pomeroy  on  the  Sabbath 
before  her  death;  never  knew  her  before;  went  to  see  her  at  the  solicb 
tation  of  Mr.  Metz,  who  said  that  efforts  had  been  made  to  secure  the  at 
tendance  of  ministers  of  her  own  Church,  but  in  vain  ;  the  excuse  was 
that  they  were  absent  from  the  city  ;  she  was  in  a  sinking  state,  and  it 
was  evident  that  she  recognized  she  was  rapidly  approaching  dissolution; 
her  first  statement  to  me  was  that  she  had  sadly  fallen,  but  she  expressed 
a  positive  confidence  that  she  would  regain  hold  of  Christ,  aud  I  could 
sot  doubt  her  sincerity ;  she  made  no  statement  as  to  the  cause  of  her 
eonditiou  ;  I  prayed  with  her ;  she  expressed  her  gratitude  and  entreated 
me  to  repeat  my  visit;  I  called  on  her  three  times;  I  feel  it  due  to  my¬ 
self  to  say  that  in  all  these  visits  I  never  questioned  Miss  Pomeroy  ia 
regard  to  this  terrible  affair  ;  during  my  third  visit,  just  before  her  death, 
she  used  the  following  words,  which  I  wrote  down  lest  I  should  forget 
them: — “I  said  to  Mr.  Dunne  on  Sunday,  and  I  now  say  to  you,  that 
Mr.  Glendenning,  and  he  alone,  is  the  father  of  my  child;  this  I  say  ia 
your  presence,  and  I  call  God  to  witness  that  I  speak  the  truth  ;  ”  she 
was  remarkably  calm  ;  she  said  she  had  made  a  great  effort  to  regain 
bold  of  Christ,  and  that  hold  had  been  regained;  I  could  not  doubt  her 
religious  statements. 

On  cross-examination  he  said:-— I  saw  Miss  Pomeroy  about  two  hours 
before  her  death  ;  her  manner  impressed  me  with  the  truth  of  her  state¬ 
ments,  especially  when  she  knew  she  was  about  dying,  and  said  so  in  so 
many  words  ;  I  warned  her  especially  against  falsehood  on  this  point;  I 
told  her  that  absolute  truth  was  indispensable  if  she  would  regain  her 
hold  on  God. 

Q.  D  id  you  believe  in  the  truth  of  her  statements  ?  A.  I  will  answer 
that  if  it  be  a  proper  question  here,  I  did  Q.  Did  you  deliver  an  address 
at  the  funeral  ?  A.  I  did.  Q.  Did  you  say  then  that  you  would  doubt 
the  existence  of  a  God  if  the  villain  who  seduced  her  were  not  punished 
far  his  sin?  A.  I  did,  in  substance;  I  said  there  mulct  be  some  punish¬ 
ment  for  the  seducer  in  this  world  or  the  next.  Q.  Did  you  say  that  her 
seducer  when  he  made  one  misstep  became  a  murderer?  A.  I  did,  aud 

I  worse  than  a  murderer,  for  he  not  only  destroyed  the  body  but  the  repu¬ 
tation  as  well.  Q.  Did  you  say  that  you  held  yourself  responsible  before 
che  bar  of  man  for  the  expressions  you  uttered  on  that  occasion?  A.  I 
lid.  Q.  Did  you  rely  on  Miss  Pomeroy’s  statements  solely?  A.  Not 
solely,  but  mainly.  Q  What  were  your  other  sources  of  information  ? 
L  I  decline  to  answer  that  question.  Witness  continued — I  baptized 
ihe  child  “Ella  Stuart;”  I  had  nothing  at  all  to  do  with  the  name  Glen- 
lenning;  the  baptism  took  place  before  the  funeral  service. 

Mr.  Harkness. — Did  you  suppose  when  Miss  Pomeroy  made  the  state¬ 
ment  that  there  had  been  a  previous  arrangement  in  regard  to  it  ?  A.  No 


52 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


sir,  I  had  no  such  impression ;  but,  perhaps,  it  might  hare  resulted  from 
mv  obtuseness.  (Laughter.) 

Mr.  George  P.  Howell,  an  elder  of  the  church,  testified — I  was  aware 
that  an  impression  prevailed  among  the  congregation  that  Mr.  Glenden- 
ning  was  engaged  to  be  married  to  Miss  Pomeroy;  had  a  conversation 
with  Mr.  Dunne,  the  other  elder,  about  it ;  it  was  not  a  ground  for  un¬ 
easiness  with  me  ;  my  feeling  was  that  I  regarded  it  as  unwise  for  him 
to  show  attention  in  that  direction  ;  the  first  talk  about  it  was  over  a  year 
ago,  and  was  pretty  general ;  talked  to  Mr.  Glendenning  about  it;  he 
denied  positively  that  he  was  engaged  to  Miss  Pomeroy ;  he  admitted 
that  he  had  made  her  presents;  he  said  that  he  gave  her  a  watch  and 
chain  ;  the  reason  he  gave  for  presenting  the  watch  was  that  she  waa 
absent  on  one  or  two  occasions  from  the  organ,  a;id  he  reproved  her  for 
her  absence  ;  she  replied  in  substance  that  she  had  no  watch  and  could 
not  know  the  time. 

Q.  Did  he  say  that  he  gave  her  the  ehain  on  the  same  ground  ?  A.  1 
t&ink  he  did.  (Laughter.) 

Elder  George  P.  Howell  resumed  the  stand  on  direct  examination  and 
gave  the  following  testimony : — Would  not  like  to  answer  any  further 
question  in  relation  to  the  presents  given  to  Miss  Pomeroy  by  Mr.  Gleii' 
denning,  because  it  would  iuvolve  a  breach  of  confidence  between  Mr 
Glendenning  and  witness  and  would  shadow  a  portion  of  the  defence. 

The  Moderator  ruled  that  a  witness  was  not  required  to  violate  con¬ 
fidence. 

Mr.  Dodd  said  that  the  defence  had  no  objection  to  Mr.  Howell's  aiu^. 
wering  all  questions. 

Witness  continued — Mr.  Glendenning  gave  the  chain  to  Miss  Pomerey 
to  protect  her  watch  ;  when  Mr.  Glendenning  denied  that  he  M  as  engaged 
to  be  married  he  made  no  explanation  iu  regard  to  his  reasons;  he  left 
the  impression  on  my  mind  that  he  did  uot  seek  Miss  Pomeroy  at  all. 

Mrs.  Clara  H.  Randall  testified  : — I  have  been  a  member  of  the  con¬ 
gregation  of  this  church  for  three  years;  knew  Miss  Pomeroy  for  abont 
six  years;  lived  nearly  opposite  Mr.  Miller’s  bouse;  never  heard  any  in¬ 
timation  against  Miss  Pomeroy’s  character ;  Miss  Pomeroy  told  me  she 
received  valuable  presents  from  Mr.  Glendenning;  I  saw  these  presents 
— a  locket,  watch  and  chain,  sleeve  buttons,  &e. ;  she  never  spoke  directly  1 
to  me  about  her  engagement  with  Mr.  Glendenning,  but  she  spoke  fami-  j 
liarly  about  him  and  talked  of  her  future  prospects  in  such  a  way  as  t® 
leave  the  impression  in  my  mind  that  they  were  engaged  ;  knew  him  t* 
visit  Miss  Pomeroy  often  ;  had  no  curiosity  in  the  matter,  but  when  I 
heard  that  Mr.  Glendenning  denied  his  intimacy  with  Miss  Pomeroy  I 
thought  I  would  satisfy  myself  and  watch;  he  stayed  one  night  till 
twenty  minutes  before  twelve,  another  night  till  ten  minutes  past  one,  1 
and  another  till  five  minutes  before  two;  I  pulled  out  my  watch  to  walk  i 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


53 


&h©  time  each  of  these  nights;  had  a  conversation  with  Miss  Pomeroy 
about  her  pregnancy  ;  she  said  that  Mr.  Glendenning  was  the  father  of 
her  child. 

Q.  Did  she  state  that  he  and  he  only  led  her  astray  ?  A.  She  did, 
emphatically  ;  I  asked  her  that  question,  whether  she  was  ever  on  crim¬ 
inal  intimacy  with  any  other  person,  and  she  answered,  never;  she  ex¬ 
pressed  very  great  penitence  for  her  share  in  the  sin  ;  she  told  me  it  was 
her  daily  prayer  that  the  Lord  might  forgive  Mr.  Glendenning  for  what 
he  had  done,  for  she  could  not,  though  she  was  constantly  praying  she 
might  be  able  to  do  so  ;  she  heard  that  he  denied  he  was  the  father  of 
the  child  ;  she  spoke  of  the  manner  in  which  she  was  deceived,  afid  said, 
that  she  never  thought  she  could  be  deceived  by  one  who  made  so  many 
promises  ;  she  sent  for  wituess  on  the  Wednesday  before  her  death  ;  found 
her  very  much  depressed  ;  had  a  long  conversation  with  her  on  the  follow¬ 
ing  morning;  she  said  she  was  suffering  intensely,  both  physically  and 
mentally  ;  that  she  did  not  see  one  ray  of  light  in  the  future  ;  that  she 
was  ruined,  disgraced,  with  a  child  and  without  any  means;  she  said 
that  uo  one  except  Mr.  Glendenning  ever  made  improper  proposals  ;  when 
I  saw  her  heart-broken  condition  that  morning  I  resolved  that,  if  I  ever 
had  an  opportunity  to  speak  in  her  defence  I  would  do  so ;  she  was  a 
fallen  woman,  but  a  woman  still ;  she  said  she  realized  her  situation  fully; 
she  was  in  full  possession  of  her  senses  during  this  statement ;  she  spoke 
of  threats  made  against  her  by  Mr.  Glendenning  ;  she  said  he  asked  her 
to  help  him  out  of  his  difficulty  and  he  told  her  to  do  as  he  wished  her 
(witness  here  detailed  the  pistol  scene);  on  the  night  he  compelled  her 
to  sign  the  document  she  said  he  placed  her  hand  on  the  Bible  and  she 
solemnly  swore  she  would  never  reveal  either  her  condition  or  implicate 
him ;  she  intended  to  keep  that  oath  ;.  this  explained  her  words  on  the 
night  of  Mr.  Glendenning’s  arrest — “Glen,  I  have  deceived  you,  it  is 
yours;”  she  said  she  did  not  think  she  could  live,  and  added,  “If  I  live, 
where  am  I  ?”  she  said  she  would  like  to  live  to  see  Glendenning  brought 
to  justice;  she  always  spoke  of  her  own  guilt  first  in  her  conversation  on 
$le  subject. 

Q.  When  Mr.  Pomeroy  said  that  Mr.  Glendenning  promised  to  stand 
by  her,  what  did  you  understand  by  that?  A.  That  he  would  take  care 
of  her  till  the  time  should  come  for  him  to  marry  her. 

Mrs.  Reeves  testified  : — Knew  Miss  Pomeroy;  6he  was  of  a  very  good 
character;  have  seen  Mr.  Glendenning  visit  at  Mrs.  Miller’s  very  often; 
he  went  to  see  Miss  Pomeroy  in  particular ;  she  told  me  they  were  en-» 
gaged;  I  asked  her  when  the  affair  was  coming  off,  and  she  said  she  did 
not  know  herself;  she  showed  me  her  engagement  ring;  she  had  it  on 
Iher  finger  ;  she  mentioned  no  name  when  she  said  she  was  engaged. 


54 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


A  TELL-TALE  LETTER. 

Read  a  note  from  Mr.  Glendenning  to  Miss  Pomeroy;  she  received 
it  on  tbe  morning  of  the  12th  of  May  last;  there  were  not  more  than  half 
a  dozen  lines  in  it ;  it  read  in  this  way,  as  near  as  I  can  recollect: 

Dear  Mary.  I  wish  you  would  be  ready  by  half-past  seven  this  evening,  and 
we  will  go  either  to  New  York  or  Jersey  City.  I  want  you  to  look  your  prettiest. 

Yours, 

GLUN. 

Am  not  sure  whether  it  was  “Your  own  Glen,”  or  Yours,  Glen.” 

-  Witness  then  described  the  death  bed  scene  and  continued  : — Mr.  Glen, 
denning  and  Mary  were  at  my  children’s  christening;  he  was  in  th» 
habit  of  taking  her  to  different  places  frequently;  she  used  to  tell  me  she 
was  out  with  him  in  the  evenings  at  concerts  or  for  a  walk;  was  in  the 
church  when  a  set  of  silver  was  presented  to  Mr.  Glendenning;  Mary 
and  he  and  I  were  talking  and  I  said,  fully  believing  they  were  engaged, 
“  They  will  be  so  nice  to  clean  when  you  get  married  ;”  Mr.  Glendenning 
replied,  “That’s  so,  Mrs.  Reeves.” 

Mrs.  Fanny  S.  Birmingham  examined  : — I  knew  Miss  Pomeroy  io- 
limately ;  never  knew  anything  against  her  character ;  I  was  on  such 
intimate  terms  with  her  that  I  would  have  heard  if  anything  of  the  kind 
were  said  about  her ;  I  called  to  see  her  five  days  before  her  death  and 
she  said  she  was  suffering  both  in  mind  and  body ;  she  said  it  was  hard 
that  she  should  suffer  and  that  Glen  should  go  free ;  I  asked  her  was 
Glendenning  the  father  of  the  child  and  she  said  yes;  she  tarned  frow 
side  to  side  and  groaned. 

Mr.  Cyrus  Thatcher  testified  to  the  good  character  of  Miea  Pomeroy. 
He  had  ample  opportunity  of  judging,  as  he  had  been  connected  with 
Mr.  Miller  in  business  for  eight  years;  Miss  Pomeroy  always  moved  i» 
good  society. 

Mrs.  Alvina  Grattan,  who  was  acquainted  with  Miss  Pomeroy  foi 
twelve  years,  also  testified  in  her  excellent  character;  Miss  Pomeroy 
told  witness  that  Mr.  Glendenning  was  the  father  of  her  child  ;  she  spoke 
as  if  she  thought  a  great  deal  of  him  ;  she  said  she  loved  him  dearly,  and* 
would  as  soon  have  doubted  her  saviour  as  have  doubted  him  ;  she  used! 
these  very  words;  she  did  not  speak  ot  any  one  else. 

A  discussion  here  took  place  on  the  question  of  admitting  rebuttinj  I 
evidence  for  the  prosecution.  The  defence  resisted  the  proposition.  Th<| 
subject  had  not  been  decided  when  the  hour  of  adjournment  arrived. 

The  argument  on  the  question  of  admitting  rebutting  testimony  on  thtl 
yart  of  the  prosecution  was  resumed.  Rev.  Mr.  Edwards  urged  in  I 
forcible  argument,  that  the  prosecution  had  a  right  to  introduce  new  te« 
timony.  He  regretted  the  declaration  of  Mr.  Dodd,  some  days  ago,  tli* 
unless  certain  points  were  yielded  he  would  be  obliged  to  withdraw! 
“Now,  Mr.  Moderator,”  continued  the  speaker,  “This  defendant  caun<® 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


55 


•withdraw.  He  is  in  the  hands  of  this  Presbytery.  If  he  should  attempt 
to  relieve  himself  of  his  attendance  before  the  Presbytery  during  the  in¬ 
vestigation  of  these  charges  then  the  Presbytery  can  cite  him  again,  and 
if  he  refuse  to  appear  we  can  depose  him.” 

Mr.  Dodd  here  explained  that  when  he  made  that  statement  he  in¬ 
tended  to  convey  simply  that  he  intended  to  withdraw  as  counsel  for  the 
defence. 

Mr.  Edwards  rejoined  that  when  counsel  makes  a  declaration  of  that 
kind  it  is  always  understood  that  his  client  is  involved  and  responsible 
for  the  declaration. 

After  a  long  debate  the  resolution  offered  by  the  prosecution  in  favor 
iff  the  admission  of  rebutting  testimony  was  laid  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Ira  K.  Miller,  of  Yonkers,  examined — Knew  Miss  Pomeroy  since 
she  was  a  baby;  my  acquaintance  with  her  commenced  in  Ovid,  N.  Y. ; 
sever  heard  of  a  blemish  in  her  character  ;  my  personal  knowledge  of  her 
was  that  she  was  a  pure,  virtuous  girl ;  I  considered  her  a  fit  associate 
for  my  daughter,  with  whom  she  was  intimately  acquainted  ;  never  saw 
Mr.  Glendenning  till  to-day ;  I  heard  her  frequently  spoken  of  in  Ovid 
*nd  always  in  the  highest  terms,  never  beard  anything  about  her  but 
what  was  good  till  this  affair. 

Mrs.  Mary  Haskins,  a  nurse,  testified — I  was  with  Miss  Pomeroy  dur¬ 
ing  her  sickness  ;  I  told  her  on  the  Sunday  before  Mr.  Glendenning’s  ar¬ 
rest  that  I  was  at  church  and  saw  Mr.  Glendenning;  she  asked  me  how 
he  looked  and  I  said  he  looked  good  ;  t  told  her  I  was  surprised  to  find 
feer  in  such  a  condition  and  she  said  she  was  surprised  herself,  as  Mr. 
Glendenning  had  promised  to  make  her  his  wife ;  she  told  me  that  she 
sever  had  criminal  intimacy  with  any  man  but  Mr.  Glendenning  and  he 
was  the  father  of  her  child;  I  asked  her  the  date  of  her  seduction  and 
<be  told  me  July  3,  1873  ;  the  intimacy  was  continuous ;  she  said  that  h« 
told  her  that  be  had  engaged  a  place  in  Yew  York  to  put  her  in  during 
vacation;  he  said  he  could  not  marry  her  just  then,  as  his  mother  and 
ais  sister,  and  the  congregation  would  not  permit  it. 

!Ou  cross-examination  witness  said — Miss  Pomeroy  frequently  wished 
see  Mr.  Glendenning,  but  I  laughed  and  said  I  did  not  think  he  would 
:e  to  see  her. 

Mr.  Joseph  F.  Talson,  a  venerable-looking  gentleman,  testified — Knew 
iss  Pomeroy  fifteen  or  sixteen  years;  she  went  to  school  with  my  chil- 
en  and  I  saw  her  every  week  since  then  ;  she  played  the  organ  in  the 
est  End  church;  I  never  heard  anything  against  her  character;  T 
>uld  suspect  almost  anybody  else  to  be  guilty  of  anything  wrong  rather 
an  her;  I  saw  her  and  Mr.  Glendenning  together  on  the  5th  July  in 
'oadwav,  at  West  End;  when  I  came  near  them  he  walked  away  ;  I 
ought  it  was  very  strange  ;  when  I  came  up  to  where  she  was  stand- 
I  raised  my  hat  and  bowed  to  her,  but  she  never  spoke  to  me  ;  I 


56 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


thought  it  very  curious,  as  she  always  before  spoke  to  me  so  pleasantly  5 
she  seemed  to  bo  in  great  distress;  she  was  weeping  aud  holding  her 
handkerchief  to  her  face;  Gleudeuniug  walked  off  towards  the  Bergen 
church ;  wheu  they  saw  me  coming  I  saw  him  make  a  motion  of  his  hand 
to  her  as  much  as  to  say,  “you  go  that  way  aud  I'll  go  this  way;”  I 
thought  it  was  very  strange  etiquette  for  a  gentleman  ;  ten  days  after* 
wards  I  read  in  the  papers  of  Mr.  Glendennsng's  arrest: 

On  cross-examination  the  witness  admitted  that  he  was  chairman  of  the 
indignation  meeting;  he  was  called  to  take  the  chair  by  acclamation:  he 
would  occupy  the  same  position  to-morrow,  because  he  was  the  father  of 
children;  he  had  no  auimosity  against  Mr.  Gleudenning;  on  the  contrary 
he  respected  the  man,  because  as  a  minister  he  was  the  representative  of 
his  heavenly  Father;  he  loved  the  man  but  not  his  acts. 

Mr.  Henry  A.  Hellerman,  Postmaster  of  Hudson  City  examined — I 
have  been  engaged  in  this  uhurch  as  manager  of  their  music;  saw  Mr. 
Glendenuiug  aud  Miss  Pomeroy  together  on  the  Sunday  evening  before 
Mr.  Glendenniug's  arrest;  after  evening  service  I  went  away,  leaving  the 
two  together  in  the  church;  no  one  else  remained;  it  was  about  nine 
o’clock  in  the  evening;  don’t  know  how  long  they  remained  in  the  church, 
as  1  went  directly  home. 

Mrs.  Nelly  Gracestock  examined — I  live  at  No.  115  Eleventh  street 
New  York;  I  was  engaged  at  the  Infant  Asylum,  No.  24  Clinton  place 
as  housekeeker  or  matron;  one  evening  a  gentleman  called  at  the  bous< 
aud  said  he  wanted  to  get  a  friend  into  the  institution;  I  asked  him  if  h« 
lived  in  the  city  and  he  said  he  did  not;  I  referred  him  to  Dr.  Hubbard 
sometime  afterwards  Mrs.  Miller  and  the  brother  of  Miss  Pomeroy  catm 
and  inquired  about  the  man  who  called;  1  described  the  man,  and  whe 
she  showed  me  the  picture  I  said,  “  that  is  the  man;”  the  likeness  is  pet 
fectly  clear  ;  Mr.  Glendenning  and  several  gentlemen  came  afterwar 
and  they  had  an  interview  with  the  head  nurse;  the  doctors  told  me  t 
have  nothing  to  say  about  it,  but  now  that  I  am  out  of  the  institution 
have  been  advised  to  come  out  and  tell  all  I  know;  Dr.  Foster,  one  < 
the  head  physicians,  said  to  me,  in  relation  to  the  matter,  “Nelly,  yc 
had  better  be  careful,  you  might,  have  to  swear  to  it;”  the  first  time  M 
Glendenning  called  he  appeared  to  be  very  much  agitated;  I  said  to  D 
Nieolls  and  the  head  nurse  that  Mr.  Glendenning  and  his  friends  we 
down  stairs ;  no  one  told  me  who  he  was. 

Cross-examined — It  was  about  the  1st  of  July  when  the  gentlemi 
called;  it  was  near  dusk;  the  second  time  he  called  I  had  not  yet  kuov. 
his  name;  Mrs.  Miller  had  shown  me  the  picture,  but  she  never  told  r 
bis  name;  Dr.  Foster  told  me  to  say  nothing  about  it,  as  it  was  a  bout 
where  they  kept  secrets,  and  they  did  not  want  to  have  them  divulge; 
6iuce  I  left  the  institution  one  of  the  attending  physicians,  Dr.  Elisi 

» 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


5T 


Harris,  of  the  Board  of  health  advised  me  to  come  over  and  tell  what  I 
knew  about  it. 

Dr.  Eddy— Is  that  gentleman  present?  A.  Yes  sir;  there  he  is  (point* 
t’ng  her  sunshade  directly  at  Glendenning,  who  was  sitting  about  twelve 
feet  off  facing  her).  The  answer  was  followed  by  applause  from  the>spec* 
t'ators,  continuing  for  several  seconds. 

Rev.  Dr.  Imbrie  protested  against  the  demonstration  and  said  the  pros¬ 
ecution  disclaimed  sympathy  with  any  such  interruption. 

In  answer  to  another  question  witness  stated: — “I  looked  over  there, 
particularly  when  I  entered  the  church,  because  I  recognized  Mr.  Glen- 
denning  at  once.  I  did  not  know  that  I  would  meet  him  here.” 

Rev.  Dr.  Imbrie  announced  that  the  prosecution  rested  their  case  here. 
They  might  fiud  it  necessary  to  introduce  new  witnesses  in  the  rebutting 
testimony,  and  he  would  ask  the  Presbytery  for  permission  to  do  so  when 
the  time  should  arrive. 


THE  DEFENCE. 

The  defence  offered  their  case  without  preface  or  statement  by  intro¬ 
ducing  Miss  Jennie  Doggett  as  the  first  witness.  She  testified — I  am  a 
member  of  the  Prospect  avenue  church  ;  was  acquainted  with  Miss  Pom¬ 
eroy  ;  had  a  conversation  with  her  during  the  summer  of  1813  about  a 
report  concerning  Mr.  Glendenning  and  herself;  she  told  me  that  there 
was  no  more  between  her  and  Mr.  Glendenning  than  there  was  between 
him  and  me ;  she  wore  an  amethyst  ring. 

Cross-examined — I  asked  her  if  that  was  her  engagement  ring,  and 
she  said  no ;  that  it  was  given  her  by  her  cousin ;  did  not  notice  both 
her  hands ;  she  might  have  had  a  ring  on  the  other  hand  without  my 
seeing  it. 

Miss  Hannah  L.  Brown  examined — Am  a  member  of  this  church  ;  had 
a  conversation  with  Miss  Pomeroy  in  regard  to  her  relations  with  Mr. 
Glendenning;  in  the  first  part  of  last  December  she  showed  me  an  ame¬ 
thyst  ring;  I  asked  her  was  this  her  engagement  ring,  and  she  said  no, 
that  she  never  had  such  a  thing  and  was  not  engaged. 

On  cross-examination  witness  testified — The  reason  I  had  for  asking 
her  whether  that  was  her  engagement  ring  was  that  there  we  j  a  pre¬ 
valent  talk  around  here  that  she  and  Mr.  Glendenning  wTere  engaged ; 
thought  by  her  actions  that  she  wanted  to  force  herself  upon  Mr.  Gleu-j 
denning;  he  did  not  want  to  show  her  any  attention. 

Q.  How  do  you  know  that?  A.  (a  long  pause) — She  used  to  stay  in 
the  church  after  service;  this  was  only  a  conclusion  in  my  own  mind; 
had  personal  knowledge  of  Miss  Pomeroy’s  remaining,  but  had  no  per¬ 
sonal  knowledge  of  Mr.  Glendenning’s  remaining. 


58 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


Miss  Ellen  Cairns  testified — Am  a  member  of  this  church  ;  Miss  Pom¬ 
eroy  was  asked  by  me  to  join  a  young  lady’s  society  and  she  joined  it  ■ 
two  or  three  mouths  afterward  she  denied  that  she  had  joined  it;  1  in¬ 
trusted  her  with  the  sale  of  tickets  for  a  concert  and  she  said  she  sold 
them  all ;  when  she  came  to  make  returns  she  said  she  had  sold  none ; 
in  both  these  instances  she  was  decidedly  untruthful  ;  I  think  it  w a» 
Miss  Pomeroy  that  sought  Mr.  Glendeuning  ;  I  said  on  one  occasion  in 
Mrs.  Agnes  Miller’s  that  Mary  ought  not  to  throw  herself  so  much  in 
Mr.  Glendenning’s  way,  and  that  if  she  took  this  advice  the  thing  would 
drop;  I  have  a  very  high  estimate  of  Mr.  Glendenning’s  character;  ] 
never  thought  he  would  push  himself  into  the  society  of  young  ladies  j 
he  was  agreable  to  ladies  and  pleasant. 

Cross-examined — Miss  Pomeroy  was  a  member  of  good  standing  in 
this  church  ;  she  laid  herself  too  much  in  Mr.  Glendenning’s  way;  Mr. 
Glendeuning  never  told  me  that  Miss  Pomeroy’s  attentions  were  unpleatv 
ant  to  him,  nor  did  I  ever  hear  that  he  intimated  so  to  any  one  else  ;  nevei 
had  any  doubt  about  her  giving  in  the  money;  we  knew  that  what  she 
collected  she  would  give  in. 

Horace  Dean  testified: — Am  a  member  of  this  church;  have  be-D 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  for  a  vear;  Miss  Pomeroy  was  ol« 
•f  the  teachers;  there  was  nothing  in  Mr.  Glendenning's  conduct  toward 
her  more  than  to  any  other  lady,  but  she  took  every  opportunity  to  throw 
herself  in  his  way;  when  he  and  I  would  be  going  out  of  the  church  she 
would  waylay  us ;  I  use  the  word  waylay  because  it  amounted  to  just 
that ;  my  opinion  of  Mr.  Glendeuning  is  that  I  would  not  be  afraid  to 
leave  him  in  company  with  my  wife  or  daughter.  (Laughter.)  His 
eonversation  was  as  pure  as  that  of  any  woinau  could  be.  (Renewed 
laughter,  which  was  quickly  suppressed.) 

Cross-examined — Other  young  ladies  passed  out  of  the  church,  but  eho 
remained  ;  1  knew  positively  there  was  no  engagement  between  them. 

Q.  How  did  you  know  ?  A.  I  knew  that  such  a  thing  was  not  pos¬ 
sible.  (Laughter.) 

Q.  Tell  us  why  you  did  Dot  think  it  possible.  A.  I  would  rather  nol 
state  the  reasou  at  present;  I  was  very  intimate  with  Mr.  Glendeuning, 
yet  I  know  little  or  nothing  of  his  inner  life  ;  Miss  Pomeroy  was  not  at. 
tractive  in  any  way,  either  in  education,  manner  or  ability;  Mr.  Glen, 
denning  permitted  her  approaches  because  he  could  not  well  help  him, 
self.  (Laughter.)  He  took  measures  some  time  ago  to  prevent  her  ad¬ 
vances. 

Q,  What  were  those  measures?  A.  I  do  not  wish  to  state  them  now, 
if  you  will  excuse  me.  (Laughter.)  The  witness  threw  out  all  manner 
of  insinuations  and  evaded  direct  answers  to  nearly  eveiV  question. 

M  iss  Margaret  J.  Munroe  examined — Am  a  member  of  this  ehureh;l 
knew  Miss  Pomeroy  for  three  years;  she  spoke  of  Mr.  Glendenning  a* 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


59 


Bc’irg-  kind  to  her  ;  she  said  that  one  occasion  she  contrived  to  be  at  the 
Post  Office  when  he  got  there  for  his  letters;  she  showed  me  her  watch 
and  chain;  she  said  she  bought  the  chain  herself;  on  the  5th  of  June 
iast  she  told  me  that  the  neighbors  thought  she  was  engaged,  but  that 
she  was  not;  she  said  she  was  very  badly  treated  by  her  cousin,  and 
that  she  worked  like  a  slave;  I  remarked  that  she  ought  not  to  be  afraid 
of  her  cousin,  and  she  answered,  “Oh,  you  don’t  know;  he  is  a  very  un¬ 
principled  man.” 

On  cross-examination  witness  stated  that  she  suspected  Miss  Pomeroy 
was  throwing  herself  in  Mr.  Glendenning’s  way,  because  she  used  to  re¬ 
main  in  the  church  after  service;  she  often  remarked  to  her  that  it  was 
disgraceful  on  her  part  to  be  following  him  so. 

How  did  you  know  she  was  throwing  herself  in  his  way?  A.  Be- 
*ause  I  was  in  the  church  and  saw  her  remain. 

Were  you,  than,  not  suspected  (laughter)  ?  A.  Well,  I  don’t  know  as 
I  was;  I  could  not  make  a  companion  of  her  because  I  thought  she  was 
too  bold  ;  don’t  know  what  the  opinion  was  in  this  community  as  to  her 
reputation. 

Hr.  Smith  Bartley  testified — I  am  a  member  of  this  church;  visited 
the  foundling  asylum  in  Clinton  place  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
whether  Mr.  Glendenning  was  the  man  who  called  there;  I  was  accom¬ 
panied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moore,  Mr.  Glendenning  and  Mr.  Jewell ;  I  bad 
known  Dr.  Hubbard  a  great  many  years,  and  therefore  I  called  on  him  at 
that  institution  ;  I  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  seen  Mr.  Glendenning  before, 
and  he  said  he  had  not,  but  he  would  not  swear  to  it;  we  called  on  Mrs. 
Graystock,  and  Mr.  Moore  asked  her  if  she  had  ever  seen  that  man  be¬ 
fore,  and  she  said  no  ;  we  supposed  we  were  speaking  to  Mrs.  Graystock 
but  we  were  mistaken;  we  then  sent  for  Mrs.  Graystock,  but  she  would 
not  see  us. 

The  defence  then  offered  in  evidence  a  certificate  signed  by  Dr.  Hub- 
hard  that  he  had  not  to  his  knowledge  seen  Mr.  Glendenning  previous  to 
his  visit  with  the  foregoing  witness. 

Mr.  C.  C.  Jewell,  examined — Called  on  Dr.  Hubbard  in  reference  to  a 
itatement  in  an  evening  paper  concerning  Mr.  Glendenning’s  visit  to  the 
isylum  in  Clinton  place;  he  pronounced  the  statement  to  be  amass  of 
inaccuracies,  and  he  drew  his  pencil  through  several  passages. 

Dr.  Dodd  proceeded  to  read  the  mutilated  article  remarking  as  be  went 
ilong  what  particular  passages  were  scored.  Dr.  Imbrie  asked  how  much 
>f  what  was  read  was  scored.  Dr.  Dodd  said  that  it  made  no  sense  and 
Dr.  Imbrie  quickly  rejoined:  “Oh,  but  it  makes  very  good  sense.” 
Laughter.) 

The  witness  simply  rehearsed  the  interview  with  Dr.  Hubbard  and  the 
iuree  at  the  asylum. 


60 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


Rev.  W.  L.  Moore  testified: — I  visited  the  fouudling  Asylum  in  Clin 
ton  place  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  from  Dr.  Hubbard  whether  ai 
article  published  in  regard  to  Mr.  Glendeuning’s  visit  there  was  true ;  th 
Doctor  made  a  correction  ou  two  pieces  of  paper  furnished  by  Mr.  Jewell 
I  saw  the  nurse  and  showed  her  the  article,  asking  her  if  she  was  th 
person  referred  to  in  it ;  she  answerred  no  ;  that  it  referred  to  the  matron 
we  sent  for  the  matron,  but  she  sent  word  that  she  declined  to  see  us 
Dr.  Hubbard  wTas  not  distinctly  asked  if  he  could  identify  Mr.  Glendeo 
ning;  his  answer  was,  “I  never  saw  that  man  before.” 

Dr.  Dodd  here  stated  that  the  defence  had  very  great  difficulty  in  prc 
curing  the  attendance  of  witnesses.  One  gentleman,  whose  busines 
presses  upon  him  in  New  York,  stated  that  he  could  attend  only  in  th< 
evening.  A  young  lady,  whose  testimony  was  important,  refused  t< 
come  at  all. 

Rev.  Dr.  Edwards — Is  she  a  member  of  the  church  ? 

Dr.  Dodd — Yes. 

Dr.  Edwards — Then  our  duty  is  plain. 

The  Moderator — It  would  be  very  hard  to  turn  a  modest,  diffident  gir 
out  of  the  church  because  she  refuses  to  come  here  and  testify. 

Dr.  Edwards — It  is  a  clear  case  of  conscience,  sir,  to  which  we  canno 
yield. 

Rev.  Mr.  Edwards  stated  that  the  young  lady  wrhose  testimony  wa 
so  eagerly  sought  by  the  defence  had  disappeared  and  refused  to  testify 

Rev.  Dr.  Riggs  proceeded  to  cross-examine  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moore.  Th 
witness  was  also  placed  in  the  crucible  by  Mr.  Edwards.  In  answer  t 
the  question  how  he  came  to  meet  Mr.  Glendenning  in  New  York  whe* 
they  were  goiug  to  the  infant  Asylum  he  answered  that  he  kuew  wher 
to  find  him  in  New  York,  as  he  had  visited  him  there  before. 

Rev.  Dr.  Imbrie,  one  of  the  prosecuting  committee,  was  the  next  wil 
ness  called  for  the  defence.  He  testified  that  he  visited  the  asylum  i 
Clinton  place  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  attendance  of  the  nurse  a 
a  witness;  he  thought  he  could  induce  the  officers  of  the  institution  t 
permit  the  nurse  to  come  without  infringing  on  any  of  their  rules;  Mn 
Wetmore  told  him  that  the  nurse  was  gone  from  the  institution  and  thi 
she  was  a  very  gossipy  woman ;  he  made  a  strong  appeal  to  the  ph^ 
sicians  in  view  of  the  great  importance  of  the  issues  involved  in  the  cas< 
but  they  were  inflexible,  stating  that  the  rules  of  the  institution  must  b 
preserved;  the  witness  further  asked  Mrs.  Wetmore  if  she  would  hav 
any  objection  to  come  over  and  testify  to  the  character  of  the  nurse,  as 
was  of  the  greatest  importance  that  the  question  should  be  settled;  sb 
answered,  however,  that  she  did  not  like  publicity,  and  she  knew  bt 
name  would  get  into  the  papers  if  she  did  so.  The  physicians  inform? 
him  that  the  nurse  was  not  sent  away  on  account  of  this  matter.  Durin 
the  progress  of  the  trial  the  prosecuring  committee  obtained  informatio 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


61 


s  to  her  whereabouts  in  New  York  and  they  brought  her  forward.  She 
olunteered  to  come  and  testify  in  the  case.  They  told  her  that  they 
ranted  her  simply  to  tell  the  truth.  The  prosecuting  committee  never 
aw  her  till  within  two  hours  before  she  came  on  the  stand  to  testify, 
ihe  came  directly  from  Mr.  Metz’s  house,  just  at  the  time  when  the  pros- 
cutiug  committee  were  about  giving  up  all  hope  of  seeing  her. 

Mrs.  Glendenning,  mother  of  the  accused  pastor,  was  the  next  witness, 
ihe  walked  into  the  church  leaning  ou  the  arm  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  WalL 
,he  appeared  very  weak  and  nervous,  having  just  recovered  from  illness, 
he  testified  : — My  son  was  born  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  seven  miles 
mm  Pittsburg,  in  1849  ;  he  is  not  accustomed  to  be  out  in  the  evenings 
ly  daughter  was  accustomed  to  accompany  him  to  and  from  the  church; 
e  was  out  as  late  as  ten  or  eleven,  but  not  often  ;  my  daughter  or  my- 
slf  invariably  waited  up  for  him;  never  kuew  him  to  be  out  alone  as 
ite  as  one  or  two  o’clock:,  he  was  out  late  with  my  daughter  at  parties; 
new  that  he  called  on  Miss  Pomeroy  sometimes;  his  salary  is  §2000; 
e  keeps  house  and  supports  bis  family;  he  has  many  other  expenses, 
■ich  as  purchasing  books,  so  that  his  means  are  limited;  he  did  not 
ave  much  idea  of  the  value  of  money;  he  was  too  free  ;  did  not  think 
uch  of  his  giving  presents  to  Miss  Pomeroy,  as  she  was  our  organist 
id  a  poor  girl. 

What  is  your  opinion  regarding  his  insight  into  female  character? 

.  I  think  he  don’t  know  much  about  it.  (Laughter.)  The  witness  ac- 
>unted  for  his  whereabouts  on  last  New  Year’s  Day,  Thanksgiving, 
id  at  other  times  important  to  the  defence.  Site  said  that  on  the  4th 
(  July  1814,  he  was  at  home  most  of  the  day  ;  that  he  went  out  in  the 
iternoon  and  soon  came  back  and  took  his  sister  to  the  fireworks. 
Witness  continued — They  returned  home  about  nine  o’clock;  he  after- 
»rds  took  a  walk  up  the  street  on  an  errand  for  us,  but  did  not  stay 
.ig;  he  has  a  pistol,  but  he  did  not  often  carry  it;  he  did  not  carry  it 
line  1,  and  July  16  of  this  year;  at  night  he  would  lay  it  ou  a  chair  be- 
le  his  bed  to  frighten  anyone  wrho  might  come  in;  I  saw  it  on  the  chair 
id  it  was  pointed  to  his  head,  some  clothes  having  been  thrown  on  the 
fair;  I  got  frightened  and  took  the  pistol  and  locked  it  up;  I  kept  it  in 
r  possession. 

>, The  witness  here  detailed  a  conversation  with  Miss  Clinton,  which 
t/s  simply  impugning  the  character  of  the  Miller  family  and  Miss  Pom- 
jiy,  but  she  would  relate  no  specific  charge.  The  prosecution  objected 
the  ground  that  in  a  matter  involving  the  reputation  of  the  Miller 
pily  they  should  have  Miss  Clinton  herself  examined.  As  she  had 
used  to  appear  and  testify  in  the  church  a  commission  should  be  up- 
nted  to  take  her  testimony: — Messrs.  Eddy  Marshall,  Booth,  Fisher, 
iterbury  and  Halsey  were  appointed. 

Dross-examined — Don't  think  my  son  ever  complained  to  me  about 


62 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


Miss  Pomeroy  endeavoring  to  attract  his  attention  ;  never  knew  him  t< 
make  any  presents  to  Miss  Mary  Pomeroy  except  the  locket;  if  he  wen 
often  to  see  her  I  would  know  it,  as  I  always  found  him  a  truthful  boy 
believe  1  kuow  how  he  spent  all  his  money  ;  did  not  think  there  was  au) 
imprudence  on  the  part  of  a  minister  making  presents  to  a  member  of  hit 
congregation ;  heard  a  rumor  of  my  sou’s  being  engaged  to  Miss  Pom 
eroy ;  did  not  believe  it  to  be  true ;  he  told  my  they  were  not  engaged. 

Q.  Will  you  state  from  your  own  knowledge  whether  he  was  nevei 
out  late  without  your  knowing  it,  or,  in  other  words,  can  you  recall  everj 
evening  from  the  1st  of  January  last?  A.  I  can  say  positively  he  was 
not  out  alone  a  single  hight  during  that  time;  did  not  know  anything 
about  Miss  Pomeroy’s  character,  but  I  thought  she  was  a  very  bold  girl 
saw  her  walk  with  gentlemen;  I  knew  two  of  them;  heard  other  things 
about  her  that  I  did  not  like;  thought  she  was  very  impudent  to  young 
gentlemen. 

Dr.  Riggs’  two-edged  querry.  Q.  How  is  it,  then,  that  you  did  no 
think  it  improper  for  your  son  to  make  her  preseuts?  A.  (with  hesitation 
I  did  not — well,  I  did  not  see  much  about  it;  often  told  him  that  if  h( 
could  not  come  out  of  the  church  without  being  subjected  to  annoyaua 
by  her  I  did  not  see  how  he  could  get  along  at  all. 

Miss  Agnes  N.  Clinton  testified: — Mr.  Glendenuing  visited  me  om 
Saturday  evening  at  the  house  of  my  cousin,  Mrs.  Agnes  Miller;  whil 
he  was  talking  to  me  in  the  parlor  Miss  Pomeroy  was  standing  outsid' 
on  the  stoop ;  Mr.  Miller  went  to  the  door  and  saw  her  at  the  window 
looking  in  through  the  blinds;  she  showed  me  her  watch  and  she  sail 
she  bought  it  herself  in  New  York;  she  told  me  there  was  no  connectioi 
between  her  and  Mr.  Glendenning;  she  said  this  in  presence  of  Ma 
Agnes  Miller;  Miss  Pomeroy  was  not  pretty;  she  had  not  many  geuth 
men  admirers;  don’t  think  she  ever  kept  company  with  any  one  but  Mi 
Glendenning. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  state  to  Mrs.  Gldndenniug  that  the  Miller  family  wa 
a  bad  family?  A.  I  never  did. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  say  that  Miss  Pomeroy  was  as  bad  as  any  of  them 
A  Never.  (Movement  among  the  audience.)  The  prosecuting  con 
mittee  6miled  at  this  valuable  piece  of  information  furnished  so  ma; 
nanimously  by  a  witness  for  the  defeuce. 

Dr.  Imbrie: — Miss  Clinton,  did  you  ever  fiud  Mr.  Glendenning  an 
Miss  Pomeroy  alone  in  the  church  ?  A.  Yes,  sir,  I  came  into  the  churt 
one  Sabbath  after  the  Sabbath  school  had  been  dismissed,  and  while 
was  talking  with  Miss  Pomeroy  Mr.  Glendenuing  came  out  of  the  park 
aud  said  he  had  been  asleep ;  I  said  it  must  have  been  a  short  nap,  b 
I  doubted  it ;  he  said  be  did  not  know  so  many  people  had  left  the  churcl 
on  the  following  day  he  told  me  he  did  know,  so  I  found  him  out  in  a  1' 
(laughter) ;  I  went  away  from  the  church,  leaving  Mr.  Glendenning  ai 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


68 

Miss  Pomeroy  alone;  I  saw  him  go  into  Mr.  Miller’s  one  evening;  he 
did  not  know  I  saw  him;  next  day  he  told  me,  he  was  not  there  at  all; 
I  told  him  I  saw  him,  so  I  found  him  out  again  (laughter). 

Q.  What  was  your  opinion  of  Mr,  Glendenning?  A.  I  loved  him  as 
nay  pastor. 

And  what  of  Miss  Pomeroy  ?  A.  She  was  a  perfect  lady. 

Q.  Did  it  ever  appear  to  you  that  Miss  Pomeroy  was  obtruding  her¬ 
self  on  Mr.  Glendenning?  A.  Well,  at  first  I  kind  of  thought  so,  but 
when  I  saw  him  wait  on  her  in  the  parlor  and  walk  through  the  street 
with  her  then  I  began  to  think  that  Mr.  Glendenning  wanted  to  see  her 
as  much  as  she  wanted  to  see  him.  (Laughter.) 

Q.  Do  you  attend  this  church  ?  A.  No,  sir;  I  thought  I  would  stay 
away  till  this  thing  was  settled  up;  I  would  not  come  to  testify  here,  nor 
have  anything  to  say  in  the  case  only  for  the  testimony  Mrs.  Glendenning 
gave  to-day;  heard  that  Mr.  Glendenning  and  Miss  Pomeroy  used  to  be 
together  in  ice  cream  saloons.  (Laughter.) 

The  witness  was  subjected  to  a  severe  cross-examination 

Mrs.  Caroline  Wetmore  testified: — I  am  head  of  several  committees  in 
charge  of  the  Clinton  Place  Nursery,  New  York;  there  has  been  no 
matron  in  the  asylum  ;  Mrs.  Greystoek  was  a  servant  there  ;  she  was  a 
poor,  friendless  woman,  who  was  taken  in  as  an  inmate;  when  her  child 
died  she  was  employed  as  a  wet  nurse  at  $8  per  month  ;  she  filled  that 
position  about  six  months;  she  attended  the  door  and  did  the  errands;  I 
enjoined  silence  on  her  with  regard  to  the  transactions  occurring  in  the 
establishment.  The  remainder  of  her  testimony  was  devoted  to  the  con¬ 
tradiction  of  “Nelly’s”  statements,  as  witness  styled  the  nurse.  The 
wituess  said  that  she  was  very  careful  in  her  conversation  with  Mrs. 
Metz,  as  there  were  so  many  mis-statements  in  the  papers  about  the  case 
she  was  very  cautious  what  she  would  say  to  Jersey  City  people. 
(Laughter. )  She  cautioned  “Nelly”  not  to  see  any  Jersey  City  people, 
and  not  to  come  over  to  testify  on  either  side  of  the  case;  but,  though 
she  cautioned  her  repeatedly,  she  knew  she  would  come.  (Laughter.) 
She  was  satisfied  that  “Nelly”  knew  nothing  at  all  about  this  case,  but 
manufactured  her  statements.  (Laughter.)  “Nelly”  was  a  pure  vir¬ 
tuous  woman,  hut  very  untruthful.  (Laughter.)  The  witness  protested 
so  much  and  rattled  off  her  testimony  so  volubly  that  there  were  repeated 
manifestations  of  merriment  among  the  audience.  One  sentence  was  par¬ 
ticularly  relished:  “I  could  tell  you  from  here  till  to-morrow  (stretching 
jut  her  arms  in  a  gesture  of  astonishment)  of  the  story  telling  of  that 
ivoman.”  But  when  she  was  relating  her  experiences  of  the  three  classes 
>f  females  with  whom  she  canie  in  contact  at  the  asylum  and  the  state¬ 
ments  of  such  persons  regarding  the  authors  of  their  ruin,  she  dropped 
•tie  sentence  which  elicted  a  loud  expression  of  horror  from  the  audience 

& 


S3 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


a«3  the  object  and  venom  were  too  palpable.  “My  experience  is  that  in 
cases  where  a  woman  takes  au  oath  as  to  the  father  of  her  illegitimate 
child  that  must  be  her  second  child.”  This  reply  seemed  to  astound  even 
the  committee  for  the  defence,  and  Dr.  Dodd  announced  that  he  had  no 
more  questions  to  ask.  The  wituess,  however,  was  not  to  be  disposed 
of  so  easily,  for  she  followed  with  this  explanation:  “I  once  knew  a  girl 
who  told  me  on  her  dying  bed  that  she  was  going  into  eternity  with  a 
he  on  her  lips;  that  she  would  rather  lie  and  lose  her  soul  than  betray 
her  friend;  and  I  know  she  did  so  die,  for  she  had  an  object  in  view,  and 
when  a  woman  has  au  object  in  view  she — well,  she  generally  accom¬ 
plishes  it.”  (Sensation.)  “Nelly”  told  her  that  when  Mr.  Glendenning 
ealled  at  the  asylum  he  had  his  hat  pulled  down  on  his  eyes,  but  she  did 
not  believe  her.  (Laughter.)  The  witness  pointed  at  Glendenning  with 
her  umbrella  and  said  that  she  recognized  him  the  moment  he  entered 
'.he  church  from  a  photograph  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moore  showed  her  at 
the  Clinton  place  institution.  This  was  followed  by  another  movement 
among  the  audience,  and  it  began  to  appear  as  if  the  defence  could  not 
prevent  her  from  telling  a  little  too  much.  The  most  humorous  state¬ 
ment  was  that  “Nelly,”  when  she  went  out,  always  said  she  h&d  been 
to  Mrs.  Wet  mo  re’s,  and  the  girls  said  I  must  have  been  bored  to  death, 

Mrs.tMorford,  another  of  the  ladies  in  the  Cliutou  place  institution, 
testified  that  Mrs.  Greystock  was  very  unreliable  and  untruthful;  she 
t<>ld  witness  about  a  gentleman  calling  at.  the  institution  with  reference 
'  >  the  admission  of  a  young  girl  ;  he  had  his  hat  over  his  face;  Mrs. 
Greystock  never  told  witness,  however,  about  it  till  after  Mrs.  Millet 
..el  called.  On  cross-examinai  ion  she  was  asked  what  was  Mrs.  Wet- 
.ore’s  estimate  of  “  Nelly’s”  character,  and  the  witness  replied.  “Why, 
j  •  thought  ‘Nelly’  was  perfect.”  (Laughter.)  Here  was  a  direct  con¬ 
tradiction  of  the  previous  witness. 

Dr.  Dodd  asked  for  the  appointment  of  a  commission  to  take  the  tes¬ 
timony  of  Mrs.  Middleton,  No.  313  West  Thirty  fifth  street.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Eddy.  Rev.  Mr.  Egbert  and  Rev.  Mr.  Martin  were  appointed.  The 
defence  had  expected  other  witnesses,  and  as  they  were  not  in  attendance,! 
the  Presbytery  adjourned. 

Dr.  Hubbard,  of  the  Clinton  place  Asylum  testified  that  a  young  marl 
made  application  for  the  admission  of  a  young  girl  who,  he  said,  was  it 
trouble;  he  told  the  man  to  call  next  day,  but  he  did  not  come;  he  ad 
m i r tod  that  he  said  a  man  hearing  the  description  given  by  Mrs.  Millet 
the  man  was  dark,  but  now  that  he  bad  come  to  think  he  would  say  h« 
was  of  a  light  complexion  ;  the  man  who  called  did  not  state  where  he  01 
th<-  young  girl  lived. 

Mr.  Seth  Wilbur  Payne,  editor  of  the  Daily  Press,  of  Jersey  City,  tes 
tilled: — I  called  on  Mr.  J.  S.  Miller  to  obtain  information  in  '•egard  t( 
this  case;  Miller  stated  to  me  that  Mr.  Glendenning  vrw  tb< 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


A 

roatlior  of  Miss  Pomeroy's  trouble,  and  that  Miss  Pomeroy  was  forced  by 
extreme  means  to  tell  who  brought  her  into  trouble  ;  Mrs.  Miller  said  sh« 
&  reatened  to  lock  her  up  if  she  did  not  tell;  she  said  that  Miss  Pomeroy 
repeatedly  denied  afterwards  that  Mr.  Glendeuning  was  the  father  of  her 
ehild;  this  conversation  took  place  the  evening  after  Miss  Pomeroy’s 
death;  Mrs.  Miller  spoke  about  the  pistol  scene;  she  said  that  Mary  had 
denied  it ;  in  telling  the  story  Mrs.  Miller  acted  it  pretty  well. 

Cross-examined. — I  came  away  from  the  house  with  the  impression 
tfcat  Mr.  Miller  did  not  believe  the  story  of  the  pistol  scene;  had  a  con¬ 
versation  with  Mr.  Glendenuing  in  regard  to  the  affair ;  he  said  he  had 
nothing  to  give  to  the  public  just  then  about  it;  could  not  swear  to  Mrs. 
Miller’s  exact  language. 

Miss  Mary  Glendenuing,  sister  of  the  accused  pastor,  testified: — I  have 
always  resided  tvith  my  brother;  he  is  accustomed  generally  to  spend  his 
evenings  at  home  and  to  escort  me  to  and  from  church;  knew  that  he 
was  out  one  night  with  a  college  friend  till  after  one  o’clock ;  have  been 
«ut  with  him  as  late  as  one  o’clock;  one  of  us  generally  sat  up  for  him 
till  lie  came  home;  on  the  evening  of  July  4,  1 8*73,  he  was  at  home  till 
the  afternoon.  The  witness  was  interrogated  as  to  the  whereabouts  of 
her  brother  on  certain  days  and  the  kind  of  clothing  he  wore  during  last 
summer. 

Cross-examination. — Don’t  know  how  many  evenings  in  the  week  my 
brother  would  be  at  home;  be  was  usually  out  four  evenings  in  the  week; 
he  attended  the  choir  meetings;  he  visited  much  during  the  winter,  and 
I  understood  he  visited  as  a  pastor ;  his  visits  were  mostly  in  the  even¬ 
ing;  lately  he  has  not  made  any  pastoral  calls  and  very  few  social  calls; 
heard  reports  among  the  congregation  that  my  brother  was  engaged  to 
Miss  Pomeroy ;  always  felt  confident  that  he  was  not;  he  said  he  was 
not;  think  that  he  avoided  her  as  she  was  annoying  him ;  never  knew 
that  he  made  presents  to  her,  but  heard  that  he  did  so;  when  I  spoke  to 
him  about  his  intimacy  with  her  he  said  that  he  did  not  think  she  meant 
any  harm ;  she  forced  herself,  in  my  opinion,  on  his  uotice  so  that  he 
souid  scarcely  avoid  her. 

During  the  cross-examination  Rev.  Mr.  Harkness  undertook  to  call 
Dr.  Iinbrie  to  order,  but  the  latter  gentleman  retorted  promptly  and  Mr. 
Darkness  subsided. 

Mr.  Robert  Wells  testified  to  the  ability,  assiduity  and  general  good 
character  of  Mr.  Glendenuing  at  a  pastor;  he  considered  him  superior 
o  many  pastors.  Great  inducements  were  held  out  for  him  to  go  to 
>ther  congregations  at  a  larger  salary  than  he  received  here;  the  feeling 
itnoug  the  congregation  was  that  he  was  entirely  innocent  ot  the  charges 
gainst  him;  the  trustees,  elders  and  deacons  held  meetings,  on  two  or 
bree  occasions,  and  took  a  vote,  when  Mr.  Gleudenning  was  pronounced 
(Innocent  of  all  these  charges. 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


Cross-examined. — Never  investigated  the  charges  against  Mr.  Gle»- 
denning;  pronounced  him  innocent  without  hearing  any  of  the  testimony- 
on  the  other  side;  knew  very  little  of  his  habits  of  visiting;  he  might 
i»ave  been  escorted  from  church  by  a  person  without  my  knowing  it. 

The  defence  asked  for  the  appointment  of  a  commission  to  take  the 
testimony  of  Mr.  William  S.  Purdy,  of  Fairmount  avenue,  and  Messrs. 
Goodman,  French  and  Halsey  were  appointed. 

Mr.  James  Dunne,  one  of  the  elders  of  the  church,  was  recalled.  He 
tastified  to  the  same  points  as  Mr.  Wells.  Dr.  Burdett  told  him  that 
Miss  Pomeroy  was  wandering  in  her  mind.  This  contradictory  testimony 
created  a  stir ;  for  it  will  the  remembered  that  Dr.  Burdett  denied  tbia 
most  emphatically,  under  oath,  in  an  early  stage  of  the  case.  This  wit¬ 
ness  was  a  firm  believer  in  Mr.  Glendenniug’s  innocence,  aud  would  ou 
no  account  credit  the  engagement-of-marriage  story. 

A  policeman  was  stationed  outside  the  church  during  the  session  a} 
the  request  of  the  elders  of  the  church. 

The  proceedings  on  the  ITth  day  were  opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev 
Mr.  Goodman.  Mr.  James  Dunne,  one  of  the  elders  of  the  church,  waw 
then  cross-examined  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Riggs,  who  was  styled  by  th«  Me. 
derator  the  “ Methaphysician  of  court.”  The  witness  testified: — Mr 
Glendenning  made  some  pastoral  calls  on  other  than  Monday  nights 
have  been  with  him  on  some  occasions;  a  large  proportion  of  th*  com- 
muuity  think  Mr.  Glendenning  guilty;  at  the  joint  meeting  of  trustees 
and  deacons  Miss  Pomeroy’s  statement  was  not  considered;  the  subject 
was  discussed  altogether  probably  on  his;  think  all  took  part  in  that 
discussion;  there  was  no  difference  of  opinion;  never  saw  Glendenning 
and  Miss  Pomeroy  together  alone;  don’t  know  that  he  visited  her;  i 
called  there  once  with  him  on  Sunday  school  business;  1  do  not  know 
whether  he  made  any  pastoral  calls  on  her  ;  I  do  not  know  positively  tba»  I 
he  did  not  visit  her ;  last  Thanksgiving  evening  I  left  him  at  balf-pas« 
nine  o’clock;  I  don't  know  his  movements  after  that;  there  is  noun, 
certainly  in  my  mind  that  Dr.  Burdett  used  the  word  wandering  instead 
of  worriment  as  he  testified  ;  he  spoke  in  an  ordinary  conversational  tone, 
not  subdued  in  the  least;  when  I  first  heard  of  this  transaction  I  was 
surprised  that  Mr.  Glendenning  was  so  charged;  I  know  nothing  against 
Miss  Pomeroy;  she  was  a  member  of  the  church  iu  good  standing;  I  wa# 
more  surprised  that  Mr  Glendenning  should  be  so  charged  because  1 
knew  him  better  that  I  did  Miss  Pomeroy. 

To  Mr.  Marshall — I  think  Mr.  Glendenning  visited  Miss  Pomeroy 
converse  with  her  on  religious  subjects  previous  to  her  admission  to  th«| 
church;  the  rumor  of  the  intimacy  between  Mr.  Glendenning  aud  Misil 
Pomeroy  began  after  her  admission  to  the  church. 

To  Mr.  Wall — I  should  not  have  beeu  surprised  to  see  Mr.  GlendenniugJ 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


69 


eome  out  of  the  Bible  class  room  ;  should  not  be  surprised  if  he  took  a 
short  nap  if  the  weather  was  warm. 

To  Mr.  Riggs — I  can’t  say  that  Mr.  Glendenning  was  in  the  habit  of 
taking  naps;  I  never  knew  him  to  take  any. 

Mr.  Marshall  asked  the  witness  if  Mr.  Glendenning  made  a  statement 
to  him  that  he  knew  of  Miss  Pomeroy’s  condition  before  it  was  divulged 
and  had  talked  with  her  obout  it. 

Counsel  for  both  sides  objected  to  the  question,  because  that  testimony 
would  be  secured  from  Mr.  Glendenning  himself. 

The  witness,  after  having  been  subjected  to  a  severe  cross-examination, 
was  allowed  to  retire.  Mr.  J.  Smith  Miller  applied  for  warrants  for  the 
arrest  of  some  of  the  witnesses  for  the  defence  on  the  eharge  of  perjury. 

In  consequence  of  the  death  of  a  relative  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dodd  the 
session  was  adjourned  till  the  next  Wednesday.  The  testimony  of  Miss 
Agnes  Clinton  is  not  yet  complete,  and  she  will  be  called  to  give  rebut¬ 
ting  testimony.  Her  knowledge  of  the  case  will  throw  light  on  many 
points  which  now  remain  in  doubt.  It  is  very  singular  that  Mr.  Jones, 
a  brother  of  Mrs.  Miller,  has  not  been  called  by  the  defence,  though  he 
is  in  daily  attendance.  He  expresses  his  determination  to  vindicate  hia 
character  from  the  aspersions  cast  upon  it  before  the  case  closes. 

A.  H.  Demotte  testified  that  Glendenning  was  at  his  residence  on  the 
4th  of  July,  1873,  and  that  he  saw  him  afterward  play  croquet  at  Mr. 
Miller’s. 

A  report  of  the  proceedings  at  the  indignation  meeting  was  offered  in 
evidence.  Letters  from  professors  and  classmates  in  the  colleges  where 
Glendenning  studied  were  also  offered.  They  bore  testimony  to  his  good 
character.  One  of  these  stated  that  it  would  take  nothing  less  than  re¬ 
velation  to  convince  the  writer  of  Glendenning’s  guilt.  A  letter,  vindi¬ 
cating  the  character  of  Mrs.  Wetmore  for  truthfulness,  was  objected  to 
by  Dr.  Edwards  on  the  ground  that  her  veracity  had  not  been  assailed 
in  the  Presbytery.  The  Moderator  and  Mr.  Dodd  contended  that  she 
had  been  attacked  in  the  newspapers. 

The  letter  was  finally  withdrawn. 

The  testimony  of  William  B.  Purdy,  taken  before  a  commission,  was 
read.  It  set  forth  that  he  saw  Mary  Pomeroy  wear  a  ring  and  she  said 
it  was  not  her  engagement  ring;  the  witness  knew  her  in  Ovid,  N.  Y. ; 
her  character  was  very  good;  he  never  knew  her  to  tell  a  lie. 

Samuel  B.  Brown’s  testimony  was  read.  It  impeached  the  testimony 
of  Mr.  Randall,  with  whom  Mr.  Brown  had  a  conversation  regarding  the 
indignation  meeting.  Mr.  Randall  showed  a  decided  feeling  against  Mr. 
Glendenning,  saying  Miss  Pomeroy’s  friends  had  plenty  of  money  to  get 
justice.  Witness  replied  that  Mr.  Glendenning-  had  a  few  friends  left  yet, 
and  they  would  not  let  him  be  crowded  down 

Mr.  Wall  for  the  defence  stated  that  they  had  endeavored  to  procure 


70 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


the  attendance  of  Mrs.  Middleton,  a  most  important  witness,  but  her  hm&- 
oaud  refused  to  permit  her  presence,  as  so  many  comments  had  been 
made  about  witnesses  in  the  newspapers.  Her  testimony  would  contra¬ 
dict  that  of  Nelly  Greystock  in  regard  to  the  visit  of  Mr.  Glendenning 
the  asylum.  Mr.  Wall  was  then  allowed  to  take  the  stand  to  testify  to 
the  statements  Mrs.  Middleton  made  to  him  at  No.  119  Lexington  ave¬ 
nue.  She  said  that  she  came  to  the  asylum  on  the  evening  of  the  6th  ©} 
July;  it  was  her  custom  to  spend  the  evening  after  tea  in  the  front  par¬ 
lor  with  Nelly  Greystock;  no  youug  man  called  at  that  time,  nor  any¬ 
thing  near  that  time;  it  was  impossible  that  the  bell  could  be  rung  with¬ 
out  her  knowing  it.  On  cross-examination  Mr.  Wall  said  that  Mrs. 
Middleton  was  not  under  oath  when  she  made  those  statements. 

Glendenning  took  the  staud  and  there  was  a  breeze  among  the  audience. 
He  testified: — My  name  is  John  Stuart  Glendenning;  I  am  pastor  of  this 
church  and  am  the  person  involved  in  this  charge;  was  born  near  Pitts¬ 
burg,  Pa  ;  moved  from  there  to  Cauuonsburg,  in  the  same  State,  for  the 
purpose  of  attending  college;  remained  there  five  years;  came  thence  t© 
Princeton  for  the  purpose  of  attending  the  theological  school  at  the  col¬ 
lege;  remained  there  three  years;  removed  to  Jersey  City;  lived  all  the 
time  with  my  mother  and  sister;  knew  Miss  Pomeroy;  my  acquaintance 
with  her  commenced  as  a  member  of  this  church ;  visited  her  at  Mr.  Mile 
kr’s;  there  was  no  particular  evening;  my  first  visits  were  on  Saturday 
evenings;  stayed  usually  half  an  hour;  my  acquaintance  began  in  the 
spring  of  1872;  could  not  say  how  late  I  stayed  when  I  visited  her;  some¬ 
times  long  and  sometimes  short;  can’t  tell  the  date  when  my  visits  be¬ 
came  more  frequent  than  on  Saturday  evenings;  have  been  there  as  late 
as  eleven  o’clock,  but  never  was  there  as  late  as  oue  o’clock;  when  Miss 
Pomeroy  was  about  joining  the  church;  she  was  a  long  time  in  doubt  as 
to  that  step;  that  doubt  was  based  on  her  relations  with  the  family  with 
whom  she  lived;  I  encouraged  her  and  told  her  as  long  as  I  was  coo- 
nected  with  the  church  she  should  never  want  a  friend;  she  was  in  doubr 
about  two  months;  made  her  presents,  a  iocket,  earrings,  sleeve  button^ 
locket,  chain  and  others  that  I  don’t  remember;  they  were  given  in  retur» 
for  presents  she  made  to  me-  the  first  she  gave  me  was  a  shaving  case; 
never  gave  her  a  plain  gold  ring;  never  saw  her  w7ear  one. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  give  her  a  gold  watch  ?  A.  (hesitating)  No,  sir,  1 
never  made  her  a  present  of  a  watch;  I  paid  ?45  for  it;  she  paid  me  $1& 
on  account;  she  said  she  expected  money  from  her  cousin  to  pay  the  1>» 
lance;  never  was  engaged  to  marry  Miss  Pomeroy;  never  had  criminal 
intercourse  with  her;  never  solicited  her.  He  then  proceeded  to  account 
for  his  whereabouts  last  New  Year’s  Day,  Thanksgiving  Day,  4th  of  July, 
1873;  on  the  latter  day  left  Mr.  Miller’s  house  about  seven  o’clock;  went 
home  and  remained  there. 

Q  When  did  you  first  hear  of  Miss  Pomeroy’s  condition?  A.  Ov  ib©l 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


71 


5th  of  July;  she  was  standing  at  the  organ  when  she  handed  me  a  letter; 
I  asked  her  the  meaning  of  it;  she  said  “keep  it,  you  may  need  it;  there 
is  something  awful  at  the  back  of  this;”  she  said  if  I  would  call  next 
evening  (.Monday)  she  would  explain  it;  she  said  she  would  go  away  on 
the  morning  after  that  (Thuesday),  and  she  had  written  the  letter  in  an¬ 
ticipation  of  her  going  away;  first  showed  her  note  to  a  gentleman  on 
the  morning  after  my  arrest. 

Mr.  Dodd  then  produced  the  mysterious  letter,  so  long  expected  in  the 
community,  stating  that  he  would  not  offer  it  in  evidence  till  a  later  stage 
•f  the  case.  It  runs  as  follows: 

July  7, 

My  Dear  Cousin. — I  wish  to  say*to  you  in  this  note  I  would  not 
tell  you  while  talking  to  you  for  fear  you  would  get  angry  with  me. 
I  have  deceived  you  all  along  in  regard  to  Mr.  Glendenning.  telling 
you  things  that  never  had  any  ground  of  truth  in  them,  in  order  to 
satisfy  yeur  curiosity  when  you  questioned  me  and  prevent  any  dif¬ 
ficulty  between  us;  and  this  is  the  reason  I  never  wished  you  to  go 
to  him  in  regard  to  the  matter.  He  made  a  friend  of  me  for  no  evil 
purpose,  but  because  he  thought  I  was  trying  to  lead  a  good  life  and 
needed  sympathy ;  and  never  has  he  by  word  or  deed  showed  him¬ 
self  other  than  a  true  Christian  gentleman,  which  he  is.  Even  when 
I  could  bear  it  no  longer  and  told  him  how  bad  I  was  and  how  I  de¬ 
ceived  him,  though  surprised  and  grieved  at  my  story,  he  did  not 
scorn  me,  but  tried  again;  and  now  I  ask  you  to  forgive  me  for  de¬ 
ceiving  you  as  I  did,  and  hope  you  will  show  him  in  some  wav  that 
you  know  the  true  state  of  the  case.  MARY. 

Between  the  words  “tried  ”  and  “  again,”  toward  the  close  of  this  letter, 
‘.here  is  plainly  a  portion  omitted. 

Glendenning  admitted  that  a  part  of  the  sheet  was  detached  in  the 
awyer’s  office.  When  it  falls  into  the  hands  of  the  “  Methaphysician  of 
he  Court”  it  will  be  made  the  subject  of  the  minutest  investigation.  If 
he  testimony  for  the  prosecution  be  true  this  is  the  paper  which  Mary 
l  Pomeroy  signed  when  a  pistol  was  placed  to  her  head,  aud  to  which  she 
filuded  in  her  dying  statement. 

Witness  continued — I  handed  the  letter  back  to  her  and  she  returned 
t  to  me  ;  she  made  a  confession  to  me  four  or  five  weeks  before;  the  ex- 
ression  in  the  letter  that  she  could  bear  it  no  longer  explained  that  con- 
ission;  she  had  deceived  me  regarding  her  mode  of  life;  I  had  received 
Several  anonymous  communications  from  persons  concerning  her,  and  as 
er  pastor  I  called  on  her  for  explanation  ;  first  knew  that  she  accused 
te  on  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  last  July,  from  a  friend  here  at  the 
lurch;  he  told  me  that  an  affidavit,  had  been  made  at  Justice  Aldridge's 
larging  me  with  bastardy,  and  that  arrangements  had  been  made  to  ar- 
:st  me  that  night;  I  told  him  that  I  could  not  believe  Miss  Pomeroy 
ould  ever  sign  such  an  affidavit  as  that;  Officer  Benson  came  to  me 
■at  night  and  in  private  conversation  told  me  that  there  was  a  voting 

I 


POOB  MARY  POMEROY. 


:-2 

lady  up  the  street  in  trouble,  and  that  I  had  better  go  and  marry  her  or 
settle  up  the  matter  in  some  way;  I  told  him  that  was  impossible;  ha 
then  told  me  he  had  a  warrant  for  me;  I  went  with  him  to  Mr.  Miller’s 
hou>e ;  Mrs.  Miller  met  me  at  the  door,  remarking,  “We  need  you  here;” 
she  gave  me  a  chair  and  she  sat  down  opposite  me;  Mr.  Northrup  and 
Mr.  Randall  came  in;  Mrs.  Miller  said,  “We  want  you  to  marry  Mis* 
Pomeroy  ; ”  1  asked  to  whom,  and  she  said,  “To  you,  who  has  ruined, 
her;”  I  told  her  I  never  had  and  that  if  she  had  taken  proper  care  of  th« 
girl  she  never  would  be  iu  that  condition;  Mrs.  Miller  fainted;  Mr.  Miller 
told  Miss  Pomeroy  not  to  answer  Mr.  Hallowed  any  questions ;  Mr 
Miller  said,  “We  mean  business;”  he  brought  Miss  Pomeroy  into  the 
room;  she  was  going  to  fall,  and  I  caught  her  by  the  shoulders  and 
placi  d  her  on  a  stool;  Mr.  Miller  stood  over  her  and  asked  her  this  very 
strange  question,  which  I  shall  never  forget,  “Is  this  child  yours  or  is  it 
his?”  the  answer  was  equivalent  to  the  question,  “It  is” — (laughter); 
I  told  her  she  never  would  make  that  statement  if  she  were  not  sur¬ 
rounded  by  such  influences;  she  never  said,  “Glen,  I  have  deceived  you;” 
was  taken  to  Justice  Aldridge’s  office :  never  went  to  the  Clinton  Place 
Asylum  to  procure  the  admission  of  a  young  girl ;  visited  it  to  see  if  Mrs. 
Greystock  would  recognize  me  as  the  man  she  said  6he  saw  there  before; 
did  not  see  her. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  threaten  Miss  Pomeroy  with  a  pistol?  A.  Never; 
never  asked  her  for  a  paper ;  never  had  any  occasion  for  that. 

This  closed  the  direct  examination,  and  the  cross-examinatiou  was  de> 
ferred  to  give  Mr.  John  Hallo  well,  a  trustee  of  the  church,  an  opportunity 
of  testifying.  He  testified  to  the  whereabouts  of  Mr.  Glendenning  od 
Thanksgiving  Day  and  the  facts  connected  with  the  arrest,  all  of  whicl 
has  already  been  shown  by  several  witnesses.  He  advised  Mr.  Glenden 
ning  on  the  night  of  the  arrest  to  go  out  by  the  back  door  and  avoid  ar¬ 
rest  till  the  next  morning,  but  he  refused.  The  witness  contradicted 
Glendenning  point  blank  in  regard  to  the  scene  in  Mr.  Miller’s  house 
Miss  Pomeroy  said,  “Oh,  Mr.  Glendenning,  I  have  deceived  you;  it  ii 
yours.”  Witness  asked  her  if  Mr.  Glendenning  was  the  father  of  hei 
child.  She  sat  looking  at  him  as  if  stupefied  and  made  no  answer.  Mr 
Miller  directed  her  not  to  answer  any  questions.  She  looked  the  pictup 
of  despair. 

Mr.  Dodd  put  the  query — Did  you  ask  her  the  question  more  then  once 
No,  sir.  (Another  contradiction.)  4 

The  cross-examination  brought  out  further  contradictions  Mr.  Glet 
denuing  stated,  in  the  hearing  of  the  witness,  that  he  presented  Mis 
Pomeroy  with  a  watch  and  chain.  Dr.  Riggs  put  one  of  his  usual  twc 
edged  queries  in  this  fashion: — Mr.  Hallowell,  how  did  you  know  tbs 
Mr.  Glendenning  was  to  be  arrested  on  that  eveuing?  The  only 
the  witness  made  was  that  he  had  heard  it  from  a  friend.  * . 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


THE  DECISIVE  MEETING. 

This  meeting  was  conspicuous  by  the  unusually  large  attendance  af 
members.  The  first  business  in  order  was  the  readiug  of  the  testimony 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  French,  taken  by  commission,  and  the  testimony  of  Mr. 
Glendenniug  himself,  taken  in  rebuttal.  The  commission,  consisting  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher,  Rev.  Dr.  Eddy  and  Mr  Marc  Martin,  and  com¬ 
pleted  their  digest  of  the  testimony  so  taken,  yet,  contrary  to  expectation, 
it  was  not  read.  There  was  a  delay  of  nearly  an  hour  in  consultation 
between  the  prosecuting  committee  and  the  committee  for  the  defence, 
after  which  the  Moderator  announced  that  the  Presbytery  were  prepared 
fco  hear  the  summing  up. 

Rev.  Dr.  Riggs  then  arose  on  behalf  of  the  prosecution,  and,  after  a 
few  prefatory  remarks  on  the  unpleasant  task  imposed  upon  him,  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  read  the  case  for  the  prosecution  based  on  the  evidence.  His 
delivery  was  very  pleasing  and  marked  with  deep  sincerity,  yet  there 
was  a  keenness  and  severity  in  style  that  produced  a  palpable  effect  on 
the  members.  The  close  of  his  address  was  particularly  fine,  and  was 
greeted  with  smiles  of  congratulation.  A  brief  conference  took  place 
between  him  and  his  associate,  Dr.  Imbrie,  when  he  resumed  his  seat. 
He  spoke  for  three  hours  and  a  half. 

A  recess  was  taken,  after  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Imbrie  arose  and  summed 
up  for  the  prosecution.  He  submitted  that  it  was  not  necessary  to  travel 
©ver  the  evidence  in  detail,  as  the  members  of  the  Presbytery  were  suffi¬ 
ciently  conversant  with  the  facts  and  circumstances  in  the  case,  but  he 
felt  bound  to  submit  the  conclusions  which,  in  the  judgment  of  the  pros¬ 
ecution,  were  warranted  by  the  testimony  adduced.  In  an  elaborate  ad¬ 
dress  he  then  developed  the  strongest  points  in  the  case.  In  dealing  with 
the  dying  statement  of  Mary  Pomeroy  he  was  so  affected  as  to  command 
profound  silence,  and  many  of  his  hearers  bowed  their  heads  as  if  they 
witnessed  the  painful  scene.  The  character  of  the  witnesses  for  the 
prosecution,  he  contended,  stood  uuimpeached.  But  it  was  when  he 
came  to  speak  of  the  attempt  to  asperse  the  memory  of  Mary  Pomeroy 
that  he  faced  the  Presbytery  with  indignatiou  and  became  truly  eloquent. 
It  was  only  at  this  point  that  the  Presbytery  realized  the  magnitude  of 
the  work  which  the  case  involved,  though  they  had  repeatedly  sympathized 
with  him  in  the  difficulties  of  his  position.  After  speaking  for  two  hours 
and  ten  minutes  he  resumed  his  seat.  His  address  was  pronounced  a 
masterly  effort  by  many  of  the  members. 

At  half-past  three  o’clock  Mr.  Dodd  arose  and  spoke  to  evidence  for  the 
defence.  His  address,  like  the  preceding  ones,  was  in  writing,  and  con¬ 
tained  many  strong  features.  The  position  in  which  Mr.  Glendenning 
•tood,  the  aspersions  cast  upon  his  character,  the  grave  charges  wbiofa 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY’. 


*74 

ne  was  called  upon  to. answer  before  the  Presbytery,  and  ihe  momentous 
consequences  involved  in  the  verdict,  were  questions  which,  l»c  contended, 
affected  not  merely  the  community,  but  the  eutire  Church.  Hu  attacked 
the  testimony  for  the  prosecution  with  unsparing  severity,  called  into 
questiou  the  veracity  of  many  of  the  witnesses  and  asked  the  Presbytery 
to  throw  overboard  entirely  all  the  evidence  relating  to  Mr.  Glendenning’* 
visit  to  the  Clinton  Place  Asylum.  He  called  upon  the  Court  to  consider 
his  client  the  victim  of  persecution  and  to  save  him  from  the  shafts  of  hid 
enemies,  who  were  pursuing  him  with  an  unrelenting  purpose. 

Mr.  Dodd  did  not  conclude  without  paying  a  compliment  to  the  press, 
which  he  considered  had  been  so  severe  throughout  the  entire  case  that 
he  did  not  feel  justified  in  saying  that  it  treated  his  client  fairly. 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  address  it  was  announced  that  Mr.  Wall  in¬ 
tended  to  sum  up  for  the  defence,  and.  as  the  hour  was  late,  it  was  decided 
to  adjourn  till  the  next  morning  at  half-past  nine  o’clock.  Many  persons 
lingered  around  the  church  during  the  afternoon,  actuated  by  curiosity, 
and  expecting  to  obtain  admission,  but  they  were  disappointed.  The 
ladies  of  the  church  entertained  the  members  of  the  Presbytery  with  a 
bountiful  repast.  An  invitation  had  been  given  previously  by  the  ladies 
of  the  Prospect  avenue  Presbyterian  church  ;  but  for  the  sake  of  greater 
convenience  in  point  of  location  the  Presbytery  were  constrained  to 
decline. 

The  long-expected  day  for  judgment  in  the  Glendenning  case  arrived 
ou  Dec.  8.  The  Presbytery  assembled  at  half-past  nine  o’clock  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  church.  The  Moderator  was  absent.  The  first  busi¬ 
ness  after  prayer  was  offered  was  a  discussion  on  the  letter  of  Mr.  Jones, 
who  was  excluded  from  giving  testimony  in  rebuttal,  and  Mr.  Glenden- 
ning’s  answer  thereto.  One  of  the  members  (Rev.  Mr.  Meaerau)  in¬ 
sisted  that  the  language  of  the  reply  was  most  improper  and  called  for 
severe  censure.  The  debate  became  very  warm,  and  Mr.  Glendenning 
was  asked  to  retire.  The  following  digest  of  the  case  was  then  sub¬ 
mitted: 

The  testimony  in  the  case  of  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  being  all 
in,  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey  City  met  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church 
on  Monday,  November  30,  to  bear  the  summing  up  and  to  take  the  final 
vote.  The  counsel  on  both  sides  occupied  the  whole  of  Monday  and  part 
of  Tuesday  in  summing  up,  after  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Glendenning  was 
asked  whether  he  had  anything  further  to  add  in  his  defence.  Pie  replied 
that  he  had  thought  of  making  some  remarks,  but  in  compliance  with 
the  advice  of  his  counsel,  he  would  say  nothing  further.  The  counsel  ou 
both  sides  then  asked  and  received  permission  to  withdraw,  and  they, 
with  Mr.  Glendenning,  retired.  The  presbytery  then  spent  the  remainder 
of  t!v*  session  on  Tuesday  in  prayer  for  God’s  guidance.  On  Wednesday 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


:b 

morning  the  roll  was  called  for  remarks  from  each  member,  after  which, 
late  in  the  afternoon,  the  vote  was  taken,  which  resulted  as  follows: 

Charge  1 — Seduction  of,  and  illicit  intercourse  with,  an  unmarried 
woman. 

Specification  1 — In  that  on  or  about  the  4th  day  of  July,  1873,  the 
Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  did,  under  promise  of  marriage,  seduce  Miss 
Mary  Ellen  Pomeroy,  formerly  of  Jersey  City  Heights,  and  lately  de. 
ceased.  Sustained,  5;  not  sustained,  16. 

Specification  2 — In  that  on  subsequent  occasions  the  Rev.  John  8. 
Glendenning  repeated  his  acts  of  sexual  intercourse  with  the  said  Mary 
Ellen  Pomeroy  at  various  times  between  July  4,  1873,  and  July  1,  1874. 
Sustained,  9 ;  not  sustained,  12. 

Specification  3 — In  that  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  repeated  at 
various  times  his  acts  of  sexual  intercourse  with  the  said  Mary  Ellen 
Pomeroy  between  the  dates  July  4,  1873,  and  July  1,  1874,  as  aforesaid, 
the  same  resulting  in  the  birth  of  a  child  by  said  Mary  Ellen  Pomeroy. 
Sustained,  9 ;  not  sustained,  12.  Thereupon  the  first  charge  was  de¬ 
clared  not  sustained. 

Charge  2 — Breach  of  promise  of  marriage. 

Specification — In  that  about  the  month  of  May  or  June,  1873,  John 
S.  Glendenning  gave  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Pomeroy  an  engagement  ring,  and 
both  before,  and  particularly  thereafter,  maintained  with  her  such  in¬ 
timate  intercourse  as  to  lead  to  a  conviction  on  the  part  of  others  of  the 
existence  of  an  engagement  of  marriage  between  them,  and  led  her  to 
declare  the  existence  of  such  an  engagement  to  a  number  of  parties; 
and  that  notwithstanding  this  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  did  emphatically 
refuse  without  just  cause  to  consummate  a  marriage  with  her.  Sustained, 
8;  not  sustained,  13.  Therefore  the  second  charge  was  declared  not 
sustained. 

Charge  3. — Falsehood. 

Specification — In  that  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning,  having  visited 
'or  some  time  previous  to  the  birth  of  a  child  of  Miss  Mary  E  Pomeroy 
i  hospital  in  Clinton  place,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  then  and  there 
saving  sought  to  procure  accomodation  for  a  woman  expecting  to  be  do. 
ivered  of  a  child,  did  afterwards  deny  the  same  to  be  true.  Sustained, 
5;  not  sustained  19.  Thereupon  the  third  charge  was  declared  not 
nistained. 

Charge  4 — Unministerial  and  unchristian  conduct. 

Specification  1 — In  that  about  eight  weeks  before  the  birth  of  Mi® 
Mary  E.  Pomeroy’s  child,  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  did  procure 
rom  her,  by  means  of  threats  of  personal  violence,  a  writing  exonerating 
vim  from  blame  in  reference  to  her. 

Sustained,  2;  not  sustained,  19. 

|  Specification  2 — In  that  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glend©*ming  cpmpromisa4 


76 


POOB  MARY  POMEROY. 


his  Christian  character  by  making  Miss  Pomeroy  so  many  valuable  pres¬ 
ents,  visiting  her  so  frequently  ami  at  such  unseasonable  hours  and  liv¬ 
ing  on  such  intimate  terms  with  her  as  to  occasion  public  suspicion  of 
impropriety,  especially  as  he  at  the  same  time  declared  that  no  more  than 
the  ordinary  relations  of  life  existed  between  them.  Sustained,  16;  not 
sustained,  5.  Therefore  the  fourth  charge  was  declared  not  sustained  as 
to  specification  first  and  sustained  as  to  specification  second.  Two  elders 
were  excused  from  voting. 

The  Presbytery  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  same  place  on  Tuesday, 
December  8,  at  half  past  nine  o’clock  A  M.,  to  receive  and  act  upon  the 
report  of  the  committee  (Rev.  Henry  Booth,  chairman)  appointed  to 
draw  up  a  final  minute  in  reference  to  the  case. 

On  Tuesday,  December  8,  the  Presbytery  met  according  to  adjourn¬ 
ment  and  adopted  the  report  of  the  committee,  which  was  as  follows : 
The  committee’s  report.  The  committee  instructed  with  the  preparation 
of  the  verdict  for  the  adoption  by  the  Presbytery  in  the  case  of  the  Rev. 
John  S.  Glendenning,  against  whom  charges  of  unministerial  and  un¬ 
christian  conduct  have  been  sustained  by  vote  of  the  Presbytery,  recog¬ 
nize  the  solemnity  of  this  duty,  and  have  sought  guidauce  of  Him  who 
gives  wisdom  freely  without  upbraiding.  Believing  that  God  loves  His 
church  and  His  ministry  far  better  than  we  can  love  either,  your  com¬ 
mittee  have  looked  upwrard  for  that  help  which  alone  can  lead  us  to  a 
righteous  and  beneficeut  decision.  The  honor  and  prosperity  of  tho 
Church  depend  upon  the  absolute  purity  of  the  ministry.  In  order  to 
their  continued  usefulness  the  ordained  servants  of  God  must  be  above 
all  suspicion  or  reproach.  A  charge  of  unministerial  conduct,  therefore, 
when  it  is  sustained  on  the  ground  of  inconsistencies  and  improprieties 
which  look  in  the  direction  of  impurity  of  life  possesses  a  gravity  and  im¬ 
portance  which  no  other  charge  possibly  can.  In  the.se  repects  a  bishop 
must  be  “blameless,  vigilant,  sober,  of  good  behavior,  and  must  have  a 
good  report  of  them  which  are  without.”  The  Presbytery  cannot  express 
too  forcibly  its  censure  of  the  unministerial  conduct  of  the  Rev.  John  S, 
Glendenning  in  his  foolish  and  injudicious  intimacy  with  a  member  of  hie 
church,  the  late  Mary  E.  Pomeroy,  as  exhibited  in  the  visits  ho  paid  her 
the  costly  presents  he  gave  her,  the  relations  he  sustained  to  her  both  by 
manifesting  regard  for  her  and  by  allowing  her  to  express  her  preference! 
for  him  to  such  a  degree  that  their  names  became  associated  as  personi 
engaged  to  the  married.  The  Presbytery  recognizes  the  fact  that  a  plci 
has  been  urged  in  extenuation  of  this  intimacy  on  the  ground  of  the  re 
ligious  ignorance  of  the  young  lady  already  named  and  the  desire  of  he 
minister  to  be  faithful  in  his  pastoral  oversight  and  friendship,  but  th< 
Presbytery  Iras  not  so  learned  the  duties  of  the  pastoral  office  as  to  givi 
any  other  than  a  most  severe  condemnation  to  visits  and  preseuts  an< 
intimatic>s  such  as  these.  With  the  utmost  sadness  of  heart  that  suoh 


POOR  MARY  POMEROY. 


IT 


aharge  should  rest  upon  one  of  its  members  the  Presbytery  hereby  ad¬ 
ministers  its  solemn  censure  to  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  for  hi# 
linministerial  and  unchristian  conduct. 

And  inasmuch  as  the  church  over  which  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning 
has  been  placed  by  the  Presbytery  has  already  suffered  greatly  from  the 
disturbing  influences  incident  to  this  case  and  is  still  suffering,  and  the  . 
Presbytery  believes  that  only  confusion,  strict  and  ultimate  ruin  will  re* 
suit  from  the  continuance  of  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  as  pastor  of 
the  Prospect  avenue  church,  and  moreover,  since  so  large  a  minority  oi 
the  Presbytery  voted  to  sustain  the  grave  charges  of  the  accusation, 
which  vote  has  a  great  moral  weight  as  an  element  of  the  vote  which 
supported  the  only  specification  sustained,  viz.,  that  of  unministerial  and 
unchristian  conduct;  under  those  circumstances  it  is  unwise  that  the 
Rev.  John  S.  Glendenning  should  continue  to  act  as  pastor  of  the  Pros¬ 
pect  avenue  church,  and  the  Presbytery  in  the  exercise  of  that  authority 
committed  to  it  for  the  welfare  of  the  churches  and  the  glory  of  God’s 
most  holy  name  deems  it  right  to  dissolve  this  pastoral  relation  ;  there¬ 
fore  be  it  resolved 

1.  That  the  Pastoral  relation  existing  between  the  Rev.  John  S.  Glei*- 
denning  and  the  Prospect  avenue  church  be  and  hereby  is  dissolved. 

2.  That  the  Rev.  T.  G.  Wall  (Moderator)  be  appointed  to  preach  in 

the  pulpit  of  that  church  on  the  Sabbath  after  next,  December  20,  to  de. 
dare  the  pulpit  vacant  and  to  read  to  the  congregation  the  judgment  en. 
ter  red  in  this  case.  HENRY  M  BOOTH, 

C.  GIDDES, 

Jersey  City,  Dec.  8,  C.  H.  WATERBURY. 

After  the  delivery  of  this  judgment  Mr.  Glendenning  was  called  into 
he  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  and,  the  judgment  having  been  announced, 
te  was  asked  what  he  had  to  say.  He  looked  around  and  finding  that 
.either  of  his  counsel  was  present,  he  contended  himself  by  saying  he 
vould  make  use  of  the  ten  days  allowed  by  the  Book  of  Discipline  by 
idging  an  appeal  to  the  synod.  He  appeared  quite  disappointed,  as  did 
ome  of  his  friends  in  the  Presbytery.  It  was  somewhat  remarkable 
oat  while  neither  of  his  counsel  was  present  the  committee  for  the  prose¬ 
cution,  Drs.  Imbrie  and  Dodd,  were  in  attendance.  A  lively  scene  oc- 
rlarred  at  the  close  of  the  proceedings.  Rev.  Mr.  Paulison  approached 
r.  Glendenning  and  exhorted  him  to  speedy  repentance,  reminding  him 
lat,  no  matter  how  great  the  fall,  he  who  turns  his  heart  to  Christ  would 
jot  be  cast  away.  To  this  Mr.  Glendenning  replied  warmly  that  such 

»|i  advice  was  not  needed,  as  he  would  have  confessed  in  the  first  instance 
1 

he  felt  conscious  of  guilt.  “Then,”  said  Mr.  Paulison,  “if  you  be  not 
lilty  you  are  the  victim  of  tke  foulest  conspiracy  ever  known.”'  “Now 
)u’ve  struck  it,”  retorted  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moore,  who  has  stood  by  Mr 
lendenning  in  all  his  troubles. 

The  End. 


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Poor  Mary  looked  calm  enough  now,  after  her  sorrowful  lile 
SDie  wttflliicfUdje  SJlar?  rufyt  Jc&t  fanft  uatf;  tyrem  forgenuoUen  Sebeiu 


rriais. _ - — - 

L99146 

Vol.21 

DATE 

ISSUED  TO 

'Otel. 


